implosion
Violent inward collapse
Implosion is the violent collapse of something inward, the opposite of explosion.
When external pressure exceeds internal pressure, a structure implodes—a submarine crushed by ocean depths, a television tube shattering inward.
Figuratively, organizations or systems implode when they collapse from internal failures: The company imploded after the scandal broke.
The verb is implode.
Sudden structural failure
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- failureLack of success
- downfallSudden loss of power
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
meltdown · unraveling · self-destruction · systemic failure · market crash · scandal · inner turmoil
Forcing into smaller space
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
- pressure waveMoving compression through medium
- sphericalGlobe-like in form
- symmetricEqual on both sides
energy release · high-speed · dynamics · cavitation · fusion research · inertial confinement · plasma · converging
Collapse or yield
- crumbleFragment gradually
- give wayCollapse or relent
- buckleFrame-and-prong fastener
- crushCompress with force
flatten · compress · structural failure · sink · subside · cascade · pancake · crumple
Pressure below ambient levels
- suctionPulling via pressure difference
- voidWithout legal effect
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- pressure differentialDifference in force per area
CRT · atmospheric pressure · cathode ray · partial vacuum · hull breach · submarine · deep sea · pressure vessel
Exploding massive star
- core collapseStar's center caves inward
- neutron starUltradense stellar remnant
- black holeCollapsed star's remnant
- gravitational collapseInward fall from gravity
white dwarf · fusion · gravity · cosmic · massive star · remnant · density · singularity
Deliberate structural collapse
- explosivesDetonating substances
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- blastingExplosive material removal
- razingComplete structural demolition
wrecking · charges · precision · engineering · Las Vegas · stadium · high-rise · synchronized
collapse
Sudden structural failure
disintegration · meltdown · unraveling · self-destruction · systemic failure · market crash · scandal · inner turmoil
compression
Forcing into smaller space
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
- pressure waveMoving compression through medium
- sphericalGlobe-like in form
symmetric · energy release · high-speed · dynamics · cavitation · fusion research · inertial confinement · plasma · converging · pressure gradient
cave in
Collapse or yield
crush · flatten · compress · structural failure · sink · subside · cascade · pancake · crumple · concave
negative pressure
Pressure below ambient levels
- suctionPulling via pressure difference
- voidWithout legal effect
- evacuationRemoval from danger
pressure differential · CRT · atmospheric pressure · cathode ray · partial vacuum · hull breach · submarine · deep sea · pressure vessel · decompression
supernova
Exploding massive star
- core collapseStar's center caves inward
- neutron starUltradense stellar remnant
- black holeCollapsed star's remnant
gravitational collapse · white dwarf · fusion · gravity · cosmic · massive star · remnant · density · singularity · iron core
controlled demolition
Deliberate structural collapse
- explosivesDetonating substances
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- blastingExplosive material removal
razing · wrecking · charges · precision · engineering · Las Vegas · stadium · high-rise · synchronized · countdown
- demolitiondemolish, raze, bulldoze, controlled demolition, wreck
- physical phenomenadiffusion, collision, friction, surface tension, adhesion
- breaking downsplitting, fragmenting, dividing, breaking up, partitioning
- collapsecollapse, cave in, cave-in, fall in, give way
- destructiondestruction, destroying, demolishing, devastation, ruination
- failingfail, fails, collapse, flop, bomb
implosionexplosion
Violent burst of energy
blast · detonation · eruption · burst · outburst
implosionconstruction
Process of building something
building · erection · assembly · reinforcement · fortification