implosion

noun

im·​plo·​sion im-ˈplō-zhən 

1

: the action of imploding

2

: the act or action of bringing to or as if to a center

also : integration

this implosion of cultures makes realistic for the first time the age-old vision of a world culture

—Kenneth Keniston

3

: the inrush of air in forming a suction stop

implosive

im-ˈplō-siv 

-ziv

adjective or noun

Examples of implosion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The implosion set off a 17-month legal saga that resulted in the conviction of Bankman-Fried for fraud. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 4 Dec. 2024

The financial implosion victimized tens of thousands of employees and investors. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 3 Dec. 2024

UConn lost to Memphis on the final possession in overtime to begin the Maui Invitational, then to Colorado in similar fashion in regulation the next day and finished the event 0-3 with an implosion late against Dayton in the seventh-place game. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 2 Dec. 2024

The Jets started a defensive implosion from that point, committing the first of three penalties on fourth down (and another on third down) to help the Seahawks. —Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

in- entry 2 + -plosion (as in explosion)

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

implosion

noun

im·​plo·​sion im-ˈplō-zhən 

: the action of imploding

implosive

-ˈplō-siv 

-ziv

adjective