1
as in tumbles
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
the motel balcony collapsed under the weight of so many people
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fails
to be unsuccessful
the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in compresses
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
the novel collapses events from four separate trips into one long odyssey
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in defeats
a falling short of one's goals
the complete collapse of the invasion set off a round of finger-pointing and recrimination
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of collapses
Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
East Chicago city cameras appear to show the two men in an argument before Ramirez collapses.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Video reviewed and verified by ABC News shows the moment the tower collapses, rippling the canvas of an encampment's tents.
—Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2025
Then Ivy’s career skyrockets, while Theo’s literally collapses.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
When mental health collapses, so does productivity.
—Jason Walker Psyd, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
As Stahl said, anytime there’s a reckless driver, the emergency pipeline collapses and knocks out water flow to the entire area.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
If Bayrou’s minority government collapses, Macron may nominate another prime minister, likely to be a centrist who will face a similar struggle to pass a budget.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2025
Trump first closed the loophole for goods inbound from China and Hong Kong in April, but has since extended that to all countries; Republican lawmakers’ tax bill, which passed in July, also collapses de minimis by law effective 2027.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Without adaptation, profitability collapses and solvency risks rise.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
In a worst-case scenario, escaped mirror organisms could displace essential microbes in soil and water ecosystems, triggering cascading collapses in food chains that support all complex life on Earth.
—Liyam Chitayat, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
But composability also means the failure of one key protocol can rapidly cascade through many others, creating a chain reaction of liquidity crunches or asset collapses.
—Mark R. Weaver, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
On Reddit, Mets fans were busy arguing about which squads in the franchise’s history had suffered the worst collapses.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Fires, tunnel collapses, undetected gas The subterranean fires are just one of the obstacles facing Siyabonga and his colleagues.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
As a result, the star’s core collapses under the force of gravity, leading to a stellar explosion.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
In addition to drowning, the agency has said that the victims are dying from lightning strikes and in housing collapses.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
If the restructuring collapses, those investors can pull their money—a potentially catastrophic blow for a company planning to burn through $115 billion by 2029.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
East Chicago city cameras appear to show the two men in an argument before Ramirez collapses.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Video reviewed and verified by ABC News shows the moment the tower collapses, rippling the canvas of an encampment's tents.
—Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2025
Then Ivy’s career skyrockets, while Theo’s literally collapses.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
When mental health collapses, so does productivity.
—Jason Walker Psyd, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
As Stahl said, anytime there’s a reckless driver, the emergency pipeline collapses and knocks out water flow to the entire area.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
If Bayrou’s minority government collapses, Macron may nominate another prime minister, likely to be a centrist who will face a similar struggle to pass a budget.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2025
Trump first closed the loophole for goods inbound from China and Hong Kong in April, but has since extended that to all countries; Republican lawmakers’ tax bill, which passed in July, also collapses de minimis by law effective 2027.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
Last season evolved into a 6-11 record beneath a year-long black cloud of injuries, personal traumas, fourth-quarter collapses, defensive deficiencies, and special-teams chaos.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Without adaptation, profitability collapses and solvency risks rise.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
In a worst-case scenario, escaped mirror organisms could displace essential microbes in soil and water ecosystems, triggering cascading collapses in food chains that support all complex life on Earth.
—Liyam Chitayat, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
But composability also means the failure of one key protocol can rapidly cascade through many others, creating a chain reaction of liquidity crunches or asset collapses.
—Mark R. Weaver, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
On Reddit, Mets fans were busy arguing about which squads in the franchise’s history had suffered the worst collapses.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Fires, tunnel collapses, undetected gas The subterranean fires are just one of the obstacles facing Siyabonga and his colleagues.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
As a result, the star’s core collapses under the force of gravity, leading to a stellar explosion.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
In addition to drowning, the agency has said that the victims are dying from lightning strikes and in housing collapses.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapses
Verb
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Meanwhile, Múlafossur Waterfall tumbles into the Atlantic below—its roar softened by Northern Fulmars wheeling overhead.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
At only 20 feet high, Abrams Falls’ stature isn’t its most impressive quality; however, the sheer force of water that tumbles down it is an experience to enjoy with several senses—certainly sight, but also sound and feel too.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And really, if Young fails, Canales fails, too.—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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Alternatively, a star being ripped apart in TDE could produce a day-long GRB, but this scenario fails to replicate other properties of the GRB 250702B, an explosion that would require a very unusual star being destroyed by an even stranger black hole.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This compresses the heart and keeps blood flowing until the heart restarts or professional help arrives.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Sep. 2025
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Circana’s Liquid Mix compresses that cycle to minutes, vastly improving how brands can respond to market signals.—
Kiri Masters,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Others losses, like their double-digit defeats of the past two seasons, were perfectly regular.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Both teams are coming off disappointing defeats.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Their simple plan goes awry when one of their relatives wants a posh Korean wedding banquet in the heartfelt romantic comedy.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Non-coffee drinkers can opt for the blueberry matcha latte, which goes beautifully with one of the oversized blueberry muffins.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At the Martian poles in summer, the frozen carbon dioxide sublimates – transforming from a frozen solid to a gas – and then at the winter pole condenses back into a frozen solid.—
Joel S. Levine,
The Conversation,
8 Sep. 2025
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The water condenses on the glass and flows down a tube to emerge as fresh, drinkable water.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Every moment the Senate waits to confirm Antoni to overhaul the systemic failures of the BLS is one that risks the stability of global finance and American wealth.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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The high-profile bank failures of 2023—including Signature Bank and Silicon Valley Bank—triggered a contraction in CRE lending, particularly among regional banks.—
Andrew DeNardo,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Táparo, a 31-year-old from the Santa Catarina region of Brazil, is an early pioneer of Italian brainrot music, a burgeoning macro-genre that folds the cast of characters into songs for every possible vibe.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
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The durable Oxford cloth fabric resists wear and weather, while the frame folds into a surprisingly compact shape for its size.—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Collapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapses. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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