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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
This chic $5 accessory will keep your favorite sun hat from getting crumpled in your bag.
—
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2025
The doe crumples in her tracks just as Adams pulls the trigger.
—Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 6 Feb. 2025
To use his own words against him is unkind, but with a million people relying on him, Dan Campbell crumpled under the pressure.
—Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
Add a few drops of essential oil (peppermint works wonders) to paper towels, crumple them up, and tuck them inside your shoes.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crumple
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2025
The doe crumples in her tracks just as Adams pulls the trigger.
—Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 6 Feb. 2025
To use his own words against him is unkind, but with a million people relying on him, Dan Campbell crumpled under the pressure.
—Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
Add a few drops of essential oil (peppermint works wonders) to paper towels, crumple them up, and tuck them inside your shoes.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crumple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumple
Verb
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With rounded edges, a removable lid, and neutral canvas exterior, this Open Spaces hamper has enough capacity to house even the fluffiest linens that would otherwise be scrunched in a laundry bag.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
4 Mar. 2025
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Yes, the zip-front melton overcoats were subdued (this is executive wear, Owens style), but leather jackets came scrunched to the navel, and those long johns were paired with a pecs-high crop top, revealing the strapping physique of Mr. Owens’s muse, the model Tyrone Dylan Susman.—
Jacob Gallagher,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Permafrost acts as nature’s foundation in the Arctic, providing structural stability for landscapes that would otherwise collapse.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
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Those mortgages were then bundled into complex financial products that collapsed when homeowners started defaulting on their loans.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from Apple, including iPhone 17 design leaks, iPhone 16e problems, Apple addresses AI concerns, a folding iPad, Apple TV’s expensive miss, EU’s new iPhone rules, and the pebble smartwatch returns.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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The device folds in half into a compact square and has a 3.5-inch display with a camera at the front.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Racing Bulls drivers tumbled outside the points.—
Luke Smith,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
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Nike — Shares tumbled 5.5% after the athletic retailer warned that sales would fall in the current quarter.—
Hakyung Kim,
CNBC,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Whatever wrinkles offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has in mind for this group next season won’t be on display now.—
Audrey Snyder,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
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Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set Cozy Earth Cozy Earth Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set $331 $265 Cozy Earth Pros Temperature-regulating Very thin and lightweight, but supersoft Lots of color options Cons Expensive Tend to wrinkle easily True to their name, these are some cozy AF sheets.—
Kristin Canning,
SELF,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crumple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumple. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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