crumpled

[ kruhm-puhld ]

adjective

1. rumpled; wrinkled; crushed.
2. bent in a spiral curve:

   a crumpled ram's horn.

Other Words From

• un·crumpled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crumpled¹

1275–1325; Middle English; variant of crimpled, past participle of crimple

Example Sentences

A stranger, seeming a little embarrassed to interrupt, stands there in a crumpled tan suit.

From Washington Post

Whether this was the seed of something — or just dinner with a stranger — seemed less important as I turned on the oven, smoothed out my crumpled menu, and started to cook.

From Eater

There it was, he said, stuffed in a crumpled ball behind a locked metal barricade 4 feet below the pavement.

From Ozy

I began thinking about a crumpled sheet of paper more than 20 years ago, early in my scientific career.

From Quanta Magazine

In 2020, time and again, the crumpled paper hurled into the corner was the work of the scientists.

From ProPublica

Banners with “Muslims go home” and “Long Live Il Duce,” in a reference to Benito Mussolini, lie crumpled along the streets.

From The Daily Beast

This explains the crumpled look of his beautiful red velvet suit paired with cowboy boots and a flowery style shirt.

From The Daily Beast

He crumpled to the ground under a flurry of fists and boots, and as he recalls, no one around him tried to stop the attack.

From The Daily Beast

He snatched up the thrown chair and crashed it down onto the head of a charging older black man, who crumpled into a heap.

From The Daily Beast

Steck crumpled to the moraine, and it looked as though he'd be bludgeoned to death.

From The Daily Beast

He returned to the vestibule with the strip folded and somewhat crumpled in his hand.

From Project Gutenberg

The impact dragged down on the speed of the roadster so that the rear right fender was only crumpled by the brick work.

From Project Gutenberg

So saying, Mr. Mudge rose, drew from his pocket—his waistcoat pocket—a crumpled piece of paper, and handed it over.

From Project Gutenberg

Finally, Burkey crumpled against the wall, one eye closed, the other looking sleepy.

From Project Gutenberg

Bud read the letter, crumpled it in his fist, and threw it toward the little heating stove.

From Project Gutenberg