crumple

1 of 2

verb

crum·​ple ˈkrəm-pəl How to pronounce crumple (audio)
crumpled; crumpling ˈkrəm-p(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce crumple (audio)
Synonyms of crumplenext

transitive verb

1
: to press, bend, or crush out of shape : rumple
2
: to cause to collapse

intransitive verb

1
: to become crumpled
2
: collapse

crumple

2 of 2

noun

: a wrinkle or crease made by crumpling
crumply
ˈkrəm-p(ə-)lē How to pronounce crumple (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of crumple

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Verb

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Examples of crumple in a Sentence

Verb She crumpled the piece of paper into a ball and tossed it into the garbage can. The car's fender was crumpled in the accident. At the sight of blood, he crumpled to the floor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Inflation is part of the show, as across the valley floor, enormous envelopes lie crumpled in fields before fans slowly give them shape—then the burners start, sending pulses of orange through the fabric. — Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026 According to National Geographic, as the Arabian plate began to move further under the Eurasian plate, the two plates crumpled together, creating the Zagros Mountains — an impressive stretch of peaks that still exist in Iran. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
Bass in June 2024 saw the patricide plan to it to its end, reducing his father, Gene Bass, to a crumple outside a neighbor’s house in the orderly subdivision where Xavier grew up near North Crowley High School. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026 This post-mounted mailbox is larger than average, which means magazines can lay flat and your mail can arrive without a single crumple or crease. — Mina Dragani, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crumple

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English crumplen, frequentative of Middle English crumpen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crumple was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing crumple

Browse Nearby Words

crump hole
crumple
crumpler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crumple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crumple. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

crumple

verb
crum·​ple
ˈkrəm-pəl
crumpled; crumpling
-p(ə-)liŋ
1
: to press, bend, or crush out of shape
2
: to become crumpled
3
: collapse entry 1 sense 1
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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