as in failing
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in crumpling
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flopping
to be unsuccessful
the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in compressing
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of collapsing
Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2026
And what's the difference between weakening and collapsing?
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
That was followed days later by an executive abruptly collapsing during questioning and being taken away by ambulance, only for doctors to later find no serious medical issue, the media report said.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
The allegations have put a pall over the efforts of the Kenyan mission, which while not successful in returning security and stability to Haiti, has been credited with stopping the situation from completely collapsing.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Cuba’s once-vaunted health system is collapsing.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026
Many fled political persecution and violence, but also the country’s collapsing economy.
—ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
The glass sliding door living room window broke too, and the deck outside was torn apart, the deck floor collapsing to the ground.
—Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
The second force is collapsing barriers to entry.
—Michael Jacobides, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
As this process is the main source of energy produced by the sun, this will mean the outward pressure that stops the sun from collapsing under its own gravity also ceases.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2026
And what's the difference between weakening and collapsing?
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
That was followed days later by an executive abruptly collapsing during questioning and being taken away by ambulance, only for doctors to later find no serious medical issue, the media report said.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
The allegations have put a pall over the efforts of the Kenyan mission, which while not successful in returning security and stability to Haiti, has been credited with stopping the situation from completely collapsing.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Cuba’s once-vaunted health system is collapsing.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026
Many fled political persecution and violence, but also the country’s collapsing economy.
—ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
The glass sliding door living room window broke too, and the deck outside was torn apart, the deck floor collapsing to the ground.
—Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
The second force is collapsing barriers to entry.
—Michael Jacobides, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapsing
Adjective
-
The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.—
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Moses Moody scored 23 points before crumpling to the floor with an apparently serious left knee injury late in overtime as the Golden State Warriors beat Dallas 137-131 on Monday night, extending the Mavericks' home losing streak to 12 games, their longest in 32 years.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Late on, with the game already won, James Garner and substitute Merlin Rohl chased Enzo Fernandez, sending him crumpling to the turf.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This was inevitable after McCollum inadvertently kicked Jalen Brunson in the groin, then accused the Knicks star of flopping in Game 1; and then got into a heated spat with Jose Alvarado before sinking the game-winning jumper in Game 2.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Meyers asked if Winkler had any sense during previews that the show was flopping.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His music is, in the best sense, grown-up, proof that a gifted songwriter can tackle the headiest, heaviest topics, compressing a novel’s worth of ideas, intelligence, irony, urbanity, humor and ambivalence into four minutes.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
De Pablo notes that AI is compressing timelines dramatically.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Most folding bookshelves are made from lightweight materials such as wood, bamboo or metal.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The three units feature the same folding action and design, but certain specs vary.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The company's revenue for the period was in-line with expectations, but weaker-than-expected operating income guidance for the current quarter sent shares tumbling.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Of My Own Making opens when, after a decade of productive therapy, Burke discovers a photo of the car accident that took her beloved grandmother’s life, and thirty years of unprocessed grief and trauma come tumbling out.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the city morphs into a luxury tourist destination, struggling small businesses are pushing to retain the character that drew many tourists in the first place.—
Laura Millan,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
-
If your friend is lonely or struggling to establish her identity without her sister living in the house, time with friends and time intentionally getting to know herself will be more productive.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
From truckers to commuters, gasoline prices are squeezing budgets across the country.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The university is scheduled to replace the turf in July, squeezing into a tight window of summer events.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collapsing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapsing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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