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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crumple
Take a half a sheet of parchment paper, crumple it completely, open it and use it to line the walls of the pan.
—
Amisha Gurbani, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Apr. 2026
The Knicks were closing in on a Game 4 win — and a 3-1 advantage in their eventual six-game series victory — when Tatum crumpled to the court and grabbed his right ankle in the waning minutes of that May 12 playoff game.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Toronto’s Andrés Giménez spun halfway around and crumpled to the ground on a check swing in the sixth inning.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Minutes into the third quarter, Dončić crumpled to the ground after planting his left leg, again reaching for the hamstring.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumple
Amisha Gurbani, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Apr. 2026
The Knicks were closing in on a Game 4 win — and a 3-1 advantage in their eventual six-game series victory — when Tatum crumpled to the court and grabbed his right ankle in the waning minutes of that May 12 playoff game.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Toronto’s Andrés Giménez spun halfway around and crumpled to the ground on a check swing in the sixth inning.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Minutes into the third quarter, Dončić crumpled to the ground after planting his left leg, again reaching for the hamstring.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumple
Verb
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Plus, van Ness explains that the product doesn’t have to be used for heat styling alone—curly or textured hair can simply scrunch it in to help smooth unwanted frizz too.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
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Louis' scrunched up face got an affectionate giggle out of his dad as the two sat side-by-side at the 80th anniversary of VE Day in 2025.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 2021, an elevated overpass on a Mexico City metro line collapsed onto a road, killing 26 people and injuring dozens just as a subway train was crossing over the section.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
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Other scientists warned that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), the great ocean conveyor belt, is more likely to collapse than expected, which will freeze European capitals and disrupt monsoons in West Africa and India.—
Natalie Sum Yue Chung,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Verb
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The layout includes an ergonomic cockpit, a refined interior with a twin cabin aft, and a teak deck with fold-out platforms and sunpads forward and aft.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
28 Apr. 2026
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Using a rubber spatula, fold batter a few times to ensure all ingredients are incorporated (batter will be thick).—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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All five girls jumped off the couch, stampeded toward the apartment door, and tumbled into the building’s stairwell, stepping on each other’s heels.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Although Alphabet shares rose, Meta shares tumbled, a sign of investor concerns about the Facebook-parent’s massive AI spending without a clear new revenue opportunity or cloud computing business.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Since the material never wrinkles, the pants are the ideal pick for wearing on long travel days or packing in your suitcase.—
Rachel Trujillo,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
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Nothing kills an outfit faster than a rigid denim waistband digging into your sides or linen trousers wrinkling at the first sign of sitting.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumple. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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