collapses 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of collapse
1
as in tumbles
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure the motel balcony collapsed under the weight of so many people

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2
as in fails
to be unsuccessful the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence

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3
as in compresses
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

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collapses

2 of 2

noun

plural of collapse
as in defeats
a falling short of one's goals the complete collapse of the invasion set off a round of finger-pointing and recrimination

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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 collapses
Verb
But the serial killer arc feels more and more tacked on as the season collapses into itself. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026 And The Margin Trap If a facility cannot support next-generation computing when an anchor lease expires, terminal value collapses. — Dr. Dick Bridy, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Paramount faces an extinction-level event if the court rules against it, as a $7 billion regulatory termination fee would be extracted if the deal entirely collapses. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 31 July 2026 The balls are coated in panko breadcrumbs, then fried until the golden shell just holds together, and collapses with the first bite. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 Bishan Singh refuses to cross the border, lets out a cry, and collapses on the strip of land belonging to neither country. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 That effectively collapses the $150 gap between premium and budget models — and shifts the buying decision to whichever brand your utility subsidizes this year. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026 The Bagsmart Foldable Crossbody Bag collapses into a pocket-sized pouch that slips inside totes, backpacks, and carry-on bags. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026 Uvalde bridge collapses during Texas floods The deadly floodwaters have damaged roadways and spread debris over streets, especially in southwest and central Texas. — Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Noun
Many survivors have chosen to sleep outside to avoid the risk of further collapses, and some are seeking shelter in places like stadiums. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026 When a massive star collapses and explodes, neutrinos escape from its interior and can reach Earth before the burst of light becomes visible. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026 Energy authorities reported two nationwide grid collapses in March and three in July, along with several partial outages. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 When the catcher joined the Phillies, they were known for their September collapses and postseason droughts and ramshackle bullpens. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 This problem can worsen in cases of model collapses, where LLMs trained on data from another LLM can have issues with accuracy and variability. — Ipsita Mohanty, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 On that end, Genevieve’s central pressure has crashed 64 millibars in under two days, falling from 993 mb as a tropical storm early Saturday to 929 mb at peak intensity – one of the steepest pressure collapses in the eastern Pacific in recent years. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026 Even as America’s monoculture collapses, an invitation to appear on Real Time remains among the most coveted status symbols for America’s commentariat. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 23 July 2026 If your pet becomes confused, vomits, has diarrhea, collapses or experiences seizures, seek emergency veterinary care immediately. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 21 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapses
  1. tumbles
  2. fails
  3. compresses
  4. defeats
  5. goes
  6. flops
  7. condenses
  8. failures
Verb
  • The glowing ribbon of the Milky Way tumbles directly through this cosmic triangle before arcing towards the southern horizon, though its diffuse light will be hidden behind a veil of moonlight on the night of the full moon.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 July 2026
  • Then the wisdom tumbles like Milk Duds fresh from the concessionaire.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of tumbles
Verb
  • My memory fails me, what happened in the postseason last season?
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • When an individual is sued by a debt collector and fails to appear, the individual loses the option to negotiate.
    — Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of fails
Verb
  • The leadership structure that remains suggests companies will increasingly absorb executive responsibilities across fewer people as AI compresses the distance between strategy and execution.
    — Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This is the step where the barista compresses the ground coffee within the portafilter to create a dense puck.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of compresses
Noun
  • Louisville has won two of its last three after five straight defeats and beat Orlando 3-2 at Lynn Family Stadium in April.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC played key roles in both defeats.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of defeats
Verb
  • But what happens when the showgirl goes home, wipes off her makeup, and is left to sit with her dark blue feelings?
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection goes a step further by making these partnerships part of the yacht’s design and the overall guest experience.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of goes
Verb
  • Starter addition flops Last season’s trade deadline wound up being a big flop.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The second play shows that this column isn't really about whether Clark flops.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of flops
Verb
  • The film’s final scene condenses a great deal of meaning into a single moment.
    — JD Linville, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As the plume rises, the water vapor cools and condenses into tiny cloud droplets, forming a cloud directly above the fire.
    — Yunyao Li, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
Definition of condenses
Noun
  • The suit alleges that several key components of hospital protocol were ignored or improperly followed and that those failures directly contributed to the actor’s death.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The failures of England’s previous generations were multi-faceted, but how much did the national culture feed into the acceptance of their behaviour?
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of failures

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Cite this Entry

“Collapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapses. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of collapses for Spanish Speakers

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