to crinkle

Examples

• All

• When I open my eyes, Judy is looking at me, her brow crinkled with concern.

  Fiction book (1997)

• Because it's all crinkled up.

  The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)

• This will crinkle a little bit under the eye.

• The place starts in my toes and I crinkle my nose.

• So, if you hear me crinkling a piece of paper, that means stop talking.

  BlackBerry (2023)

• At the look in my eyes, she crinkles her own and continues, "Nor like that."

  Fiction book (1996)

• But when they sit together, they smile with closed lips, their eyes crinkling at each other.

  Fiction book (1997)

• The black bags around his tennis shoes crinkle as he jogs in place.

  Fiction book (1997)

• "Who wants to come back here next summer?" he crowed, laughter crinkling his eyes at the expected answer.

  Fiction book (1995)

• "Whichever you prefer," he said, his eyes crinkling through the glitter of his glasses.

  Fiction book (1997)

Synonyms

W

to wrinkle

vsto crinkle

56 2.1

To make a small fold in cloth, paper, or skin

is the same idea but stresses small fine lines

C

to crumple

vsto crinkle

29 3.4

Get folded and wrinkled when pressed, like paper or cloth

produces gentler small lines rather than heavy crushed folds

P

to pucker

vsto crinkle

25 5.2

To make small wrinkles in skin or cloth

results in simple small lines rather than tightly gathered folds

C

to crease

vsto crinkle

18 2.3

To make a line in cloth or paper by folding it

is focused more on many small lines rather than one sharp fold

F

to furrow

vsto crinkle

11 5.8

To make lines or wrinkles in the skin, often on the forehead

forms shorter, finer lines rather than long groove-like marks

S

to scrunch

vsto crinkle

• Informal

9 5.5

Squeeze something until it becomes wrinkled or folded

implies gentler forming of fine lines rather than strong compression

R

to rumple

vsto crinkle

6 5.4

To make clothes or hair wrinkled and messy

is similar but usually describes neater, smaller surface lines

K

to knit

vsto crinkle

3 4.2

To bring the eyebrows together to make small lines on the forehead

focuses on forming small surface lines rather than muscle-like drawing

C

to crimp

vsto crinkle

2 6.7

To make hair into small tight waves using a tool

produces small linear creases rather than tight curls or waves

S

to scrunch up

vsto crinkle

• Informal

1 4.1

To press something so it becomes wrinkled, for example paper or your face

usually refers to forming small surface lines without forceful squeezing

R

to ruck

vsto crinkle

1 9.6

To form wrinkles or folds in cloth

creates finer, shallower lines rather than pronounced ridges

R

to ruffle up

vsto crinkle

1 4.2

To make a smooth surface uneven or wrinkled

implies more gentle small lines rather than broader unevenness

R

to ruck up

vsto crinkle

8.4

To become wrinkled and folded into small ridges

describes forming smaller, less ridge-like lines on the surface

R

to ruckle

vsto crinkle

9.9

To make small folds in cloth by pressing or gathering it

tends to mean making lighter, more delicate surface lines

C

to cockle

vsto crinkle

9.5

To make a surface form small waves or ripples

creates smaller, tighter lines rather than broad wavy ripples

Compounds

C

crinkle-root

• Specialized

9.9

A North American wild plant with toothed leaves and strong smelling roots used to add taste or to treat illness

C

crinkle root

• US

9.9

A North American plant with strong tasting roots used to flavor food or as medicine

How Wrinkled

to crumple

29 3.4

to wrinkle

56 2.1

to crinkle

12 3.7

to crease

18 2.3

Surface Forms

Etymology