1
as in to scrunch
to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in
crumpled the piece of paper and angrily threw it in the wastebasket
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to collapse
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
the box crumpled when I accidentally dropped a brick on it
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Recent Examples of crumple
Something similar might be happening in Tibet today as the tectonic plate carrying India rams into that of Asia and crumples the crust against the Tibetan plateau.
—
Alexandra Witze, JSTOR Daily, 24 Apr. 2025
Malone entered his postgame news conference minutes later, crumpled up a copy of the box score and discarded it in the nearest trash can.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2025
Images of the scene showed the bright yellow Penske truck flipped on its side and lodged between a pole and a storefront, its cab crumpled.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
Near Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak market, the 33-story building under construction, with a crane on top, crumpled into a cloud of dust, and onlookers could be seen screaming and running in other videos posted to social media.
—Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crumple
Alexandra Witze, JSTOR Daily, 24 Apr. 2025
Malone entered his postgame news conference minutes later, crumpled up a copy of the box score and discarded it in the nearest trash can.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2025
Images of the scene showed the bright yellow Penske truck flipped on its side and lodged between a pole and a storefront, its cab crumpled.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
Near Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak market, the 33-story building under construction, with a crane on top, crumpled into a cloud of dust, and onlookers could be seen screaming and running in other videos posted to social media.
—Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crumple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumple
Verb
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Simply shake, spray on damp or dry hair, and scrunch for effortlessly chic waves.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
1 May 2025
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The generously sized 360-degree bowl cocoons curls and waves, ensuring uniform heat distribution and definition—perfect for scrunching your way to frizz-free, sculpted strands.—
Georgia Day,
Vogue,
14 May 2025
Verb
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The security perimeter collapses, and the risk increases exponentially.—
Craig Davies,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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Video shows the man collapse to the ground, deputies said.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
26 May 2025
Verb
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Personalized learning systems can tailor complex scientific concepts to individual learners, making the vastness of quantum mechanics or the intricacies of protein folding more accessible and, consequently, more awe-inspiring.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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With an expansive cargo area, multiple storage compartments, and the option to fold down the third row, this vehicle is ideal for our family of four (who sometimes travels with Nana, and other passengers).—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Tax bill smashes solar stocks Solar stocks tumbled after the version of the tax bill the House passed Wednesday night was worse than expected.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
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The scene of you tumbling across the lawn in a wet suit is incredible.—
Samantha Highfill,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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It is also made from a non-iron fabric that won’t wrinkle, and comes in both slim and classic fits.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
24 May 2025
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It’s made from a soft and summer-friendly cotton and polyester blend that won’t wrinkle easily (even when it’s stuffed into a packing cube), and it’s earned an impressive 4.3-star average rating at Amazon.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crumple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumple. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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