crash

Examples

• All

• After a suspicious April 1994 plane crash killed the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi, the genocide began.

  Academic text (1997)

• Bhabha died in 1966 in an airplane crash on a trip to Europe.

  Academic text (1992)

• Would you rather get in a plane crash or a train crash?

• - She said I was in a car crash.

  Remember Me (2022)

• - One of the suspects died in the crash.

  Deadfall (2012)

• They said she was killed in a car crash.

  Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

• In the headlines tonight, six people have been killed... in the crash of a light plane near Lake Tahoe.

  The China Syndrome (1979)

• The news reported that multiple injuries occurred in a serious bus crash on the highway.

• Officials are investigating the cause of the airplane crash that resulted in several fatalities.

Synonyms

A

accident

vscrash

∞ 1.0

An unexpected event that causes harm or damage

often implies violent contact, loud noise, or destructive force

H

hit

vscrash

459 1.0

A single strong blow against someone or something

is stronger, implying violent noise, damage, or destructive movement

C

collision

vscrash

148 3.8

A crash when two moving vehicles hit each other

is broader and also covers forceful breaking through objects

B

to bump

vscrash

111 1.0

To hit something by accident and cause a jolt

is more violent and often causes serious damage or breaking

W

wreck

vscrash

105 2.7

A serious accident involving vehicles like cars

focuses on the violent event itself rather than the resulting ruin

C

to collide

vscrash

64 3.1

Crash into each other while moving

is about any violent impact or loud destructive contact

H

to have an accident

vscrash

58 1.1

Get hurt or have things damaged in an unexpected event

is the event itself, described with louder violence and force

C

to collide with

vscrash

38 3.7

Hit something or someone while moving, causing a sudden strong crash

is broader, also covers impacts when both move or break through

C

to clash

vscrash

13 2.2

To hit each other and make a loud sound

can also mean forceful entry or breaking rather than only loud contact

S

smash

vscrash

7 3.7

A violent crash that causes a loud noise and damage

covers both violent events and noisy destructive contact

S

smash-up

vscrash

• UK

1 5.8

A serious road crash where vehicles hit each other hard

is a general violent impact not limited to vehicles or incidents

S

smashup

vscrash

• UK

4.4

A violent crash of vehicles that causes damage

is broader and includes loud forceful impacts without ruin

Compounds

C

car crash

72 1.3

A collision between cars that causes damage or injury

C

crash course

17 3.4

A short course that teaches important skills quickly

C

crash landing

7 4.4

An emergency landing when a plane cannot land normally and is often damaged

C

crash helmet

• UK

4 2.3

A hard padded hat people wear when riding a bike or motorcycle to protect the head in a crash

C

crash program

• US

2 4.4

A short, intense course of training to meet an urgent need

C

crash dive

• Specialized

1 7.5

A very fast, steep descent by a submarine or plane to avoid danger

C

crash barrier

• UK

3.2

A strong barrier at the side or middle of a road that stops cars from leaving the road

H

head crash

• Specialized

8.6

An accident when the small moving part that reads a hard drive touches the disk and destroys data

How Severe

pile-up

3 3.2

crash

∞ 2.3

collision

148 3.8

fender-bender

• Informal

18 3.2

Surface Forms

Etymology