crumpled
Americanadjective
-
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.
I didn’t feel any affinity with the humanoid that smashed Bolt’s 100-meter record, but found the robot weightlifter that crumpled under a 15kg barbell and staggered into a table very relatable.
From Slate ● Sep. 27, 2026
The turning point came midway through the second half, when Swiss striker Breel Embolo crumpled in a heap, apparently the victim of a violent foul.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
On Tuesday morning, rescuers at the ruins of what had been a neighbourhood grocery, resumed efforts to recover two store employees who were inside when the building crumpled.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
More recently, I tidied the home of a friend who was in the hospital, the pill bottles and crumpled blankets left in situ as evidence of someone else’s pain.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
The woman’s eyes are red and she has a crumpled tissue in her hands, a doll tucked under her arm.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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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.