crumpled
Americanadjective
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rumpled; wrinkled; crushed.
-
bent in a spiral curve.
a crumpled ram's horn.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of crumpled
1275–1325; Middle English; variant of crimpled, past participle of crimple
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But there is still so much darkness in “The Grapes of Wrath,” especially in its scenes of John Qualen’s Muley Graves, crumpled on the ground, suddenly a squatter on his own piece of land.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026
This middle-class neighborhood's imposing residential buildings -- and even a five-star hotel -- crumpled during the tremors.
From Barron's • Jun. 27, 2026
As the lava cooled and contracted, it folded and crumpled, producing uneven features known as 'wrinkle ridges'.
From Science Daily • May 15, 2026
All they found was a crumpled bag of chips.
From Salon • May 12, 2026
Penelope crumpled the useless form behind her back.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
