Verb
/de̞s.plo.ˈmaɾ/
The verb "desplomar" primarily means to fall suddenly or to collapse. It can refer to physical objects falling down or figuratively to things losing structure or stability. In general usage, "desplomar" is often used in both oral and written contexts. However, it might be more frequent in written form since it often appears in technical, journalistic, or literary discussions of accidents, structural failures, or metaphorical collapses.
La casa comenzó a desplomarse después del terremoto.
(The house started to collapse after the earthquake.)
El puente se desplomó debido al mal estado de sus estructuras.
(The bridge collapsed due to the poor condition of its structures.)
Cuando escucharon la noticia, las esperanzas de los inversores se desplomaron.
(When they heard the news, the hopes of the investors crumbled.)
"Desplomar" is frequently used in various idiomatic expressions in Spanish, usually referring to a situation or entity losing ground or status. Here are a few examples:
Los precios se desplomaron en la última subasta.
(Prices collapsed in the last auction.)
Su carrera empezó a desplomarse después del escándalo.
(His career began to crumble after the scandal.)
Las acciones de la empresa se desplomaron tras el anuncio.
(The company's shares fell sharply following the announcement.)
Al perder el partido, sus esperanzas de ganar el torneo se desplomaron.
(By losing the match, their hopes of winning the tournament collapsed.)
El mercado inmobiliario se desplomó durante la crisis económica.
(The real estate market collapsed during the economic crisis.)
The word "desplomar" originates from the prefix "des-" which indicates removal or reversal, and "plomar," which comes from "plomo," meaning "lead." Originally, it referred to the act of bringing something down to a plumb position, symbolizing falling or collapsing.
Synonyms: - Caer (to fall) - Colapsar (to collapse) - Derrumbar (to demolish)
Antonyms: - Levantar (to raise) - Sostener (to hold up) - Estabilizar (to stabilize)