To be crushed or squashed so that the original shape or structure is destroyed.
輸送中に段ボールが潰れて品物に傷がついた。
The cardboard box was crushed during transport and the items were damaged.
缶を踏んだら簡単に潰れた。
When I stepped on the can, it easily got crushed.
大きな地震で古い家が潰れてしまった。
The old house collapsed in the big earthquake.
To go bankrupt or go under (of a business), to fail financially and cease operations.
あの老舗のパン屋が先月潰れたと聞いた。
I heard that that long-established bakery went out of business last month.
不況で小さな会社は次々に潰れている。
Small companies are going under one after another because of the recession.
資金繰りがうまくいかず、会社が潰れる危険がある。
Cash flow problems mean the company is at risk of going bankrupt.
For a plan, project, or negotiation to fall through or be cancelled; to be ruined.
急な予算削減でプロジェクトが潰れてしまった。
The project was cancelled because of sudden budget cuts.
話がまとまらず、契約が潰れた。
Talks failed and the contract fell through.
台風でイベントが潰れて観客ががっかりした。
The event was cancelled due to the typhoon and the audience was disappointed.
To lose a function such as one's voice, eyesight, or sense of smell; to cease functioning.
風邪をひいて声が潰れてしまった。
I caught a cold and lost my voice.
長時間の大音量で耳が潰れたように聞こえることがある。
After long exposure to loud noise, your ears can feel like they're damaged.
For time to be spent or to pass (often with the nuance of being wasted or simply used up).
スマホを見ているとすぐに時間が潰れてしまう。
If I look at my phone, time quickly slips away.
待ち時間は駅のカフェで時間が潰れた。
I killed time at the station cafe while waiting.
For a chance or opportunity to be missed or lost.
申し込み期限を逃してチャンスが潰れてしまった。
I missed the application deadline and lost the opportunity.
交渉がうまくいかずに採用のチャンスが潰れた。
Negotiations failed and the hiring opportunity fell through.
For one's pride, courage, or spirit to be broken; to lose face or composure.
大事な場で失敗して面目が潰れた。
I failed at an important moment and lost face.
何度も断られて、彼の自信が潰れていった。
After being rejected many times, his confidence was crushed.
For a tip (knife edge, saw teeth, pen nib, etc.) to become worn down or dulled.
古いナイフの刃が潰れて切れなくなった。
The blade of the old knife has worn down and no longer cuts.
頻繁に使うとペン先が潰れて線がにじむことがある。
If you use it frequently, the pen nib can become worn and the lines may blur.
To get extremely drunk and become unable to function (colloquial), equivalent to 'to pass out drunk'.
昨夜の飲み会で彼は潰れて電車で帰れなかった。
He got wasted at last night's party and couldn't take the train home.
飲み過ぎて友達の家で潰れてしまった。
I drank too much and passed out at a friend's house.