CRUMPLING Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

crumpling

verb

present participle of crumple

as in scrunching

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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as in collapsing

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

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.

Recent Examples of crumpling Euphoric players cavorting in disbelief, long-suffering fans crumpling to their knees in tears, commentators’ voices cracking at the drama of it all. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026 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, 24 Mar. 2026 The Material steak knives arrived sharp, slicing through a piece of paper rather than crumpling its edge. — Emily Johnson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026 Kamau fading, then lunging, then crumpling to the pavement at the line. — Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026 The question is whether the world can take that long of a shock without crumpling beneath the weight of rising inflation and staggering growth. — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026 Singh’s truck blocked both lanes of the northbound Turnpike, leading the Chrysler Town & Country minivan the three friends were riding in to slam into the semi’s 18-wheeler trailer, crumpling underneath it. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumpling

Verb

Pick Ups Toe pick-ups involve picking up small items by scrunching your toes around them.

— Jennifer Klump, Verywell Health, 17 July 2026
In the meantime, Atomi encourages people to try the supine core and toe-scrunching exercises at home.

— Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026

Definition of scrunching

Verb

Summary Volkswagen's unique governance, long prioritizing workers and unions over shareholders, is now unsustainable amid collapsing profits, especially from China, and fierce competition from Chinese EVs.

— Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
After winning historic Latino support in 2024, Trump now faces collapsing approval as mass deportations, economic stagnation and inflammatory messaging like the bus graphic threaten GOP fortunes in the 2026 midterms.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of collapsing

Verb

Many of those waiting for the court to open in the early morning hours sat in folding chairs beneath flags flying at half-staff in honor of the late country music legend Dolly Parton.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
There’s a Santa Claus in a folding chair with a cardboard plank on two milk crates hustling tourists via three card monte.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of folding

Verb

Furthermore, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index retreated significantly from the record high set in the previous session, tumbling nearly 8% overnight to mark its largest single-day loss since June 5.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Their cheap convenience and ubiquity in restaurant service is a big reason any person with a food or food-adjacent job (including just about everybody who works at this magazine) has a collection of these tumbling around in their cabinets.

— Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of tumbling

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crumples

crumpling

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“Crumpling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumpling. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of crumpling

verb

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