Word: implode (verb)

Associations

"Implode" means to collapse inward or to burst inwardly. It is often used to describe something that breaks or falls apart from the inside.

• The old building began to implode during demolition. This means it collapsed inwardly.
• When a star runs out of fuel, it can implode and form a black hole. This is a scientific use.
• The company started to implode after losing many customers. Here, it means the company is failing from inside.

A similar word is "explode," but "explode" means to burst outward, while "implode" means to collapse inward.

Substitution

Instead of "implode," you can say:

• collapse inward
• cave in
• fall apart from inside

Using "collapse" is more general, but "implode" specifically means inward collapse, often quickly or violently.

Deconstruction

"Implode" comes from:

• Prefix "im-" meaning "inward"
• Root "plode" related to "explode," which means to burst So "implode" means to burst inward.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where something might implode instead of explode?
• Have you ever seen a video of a building imploding? What did it look like?
• How would you describe a person’s emotions if you said they were "imploding" inside? What might that mean?