Crease vs Wrinkle

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Crease

Top 2,000 (common)

Wrinkle

Top 2,000 (common)

	Crease	Wrinkle
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //kriːs// 🇺🇸 //kriːs//	🇬🇧 //ˈrɪŋkəl// 🇺🇸 //ˈrɪŋkəl//
Meaning	A line or fold in a surface, especially in fabric or paper.	A small fold or line in a surface, especially skin.
Example	She noticed a deep crease in the fabric of her dress.	Her face was marked with deep wrinkles as she smiled.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
Collocations	sharp crease, deep crease, iron out a crease, crease in fabric, paper crease	crow's feet wrinkles, wrinkle-free fabric, fine wrinkles, permanent wrinkles, wrinkle cream
Antonyms	smooth, uncrease	smooth, flatten
Common mistakes	Confused with 'crease' vs 'crease out' (to remove a crease)., Using 'creased' incorrectly as a verb rather than an adjective., Mixing up 'crease' with similar terms like 'fold' without recognizing the differences.	Confused with 'wrinkled' as a verb., Overused in descriptions of clothing instead of skin., 'Wrinkle' is often mispronounced due to its unusual spelling.
Usage notes	Use 'crease' to refer to physical folds, often in clothing or paper. Avoid using in formal contexts when describing minor errors or imperfections.	Used commonly in everyday conversation. In formal contexts, describe them as 'creases' or 'folds.' Not usually used for fabrics in formal writing.

See it in real clips

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

...get down and tell me if there's a crease?

Crease

Better Call Saul › S1 E1

The skateboard's a nice wrinkle, that makes it a year-round gig.

Wrinkle

Frequently asked questions: Crease vs Wrinkle

What's the difference between Crease and Wrinkle?

Crease: A line or fold in a surface, especially in fabric or paper. Wrinkle: A small fold or line in a surface, especially skin.

Can you show an example of each?

Crease: She noticed a deep crease in the fabric of her dress. Wrinkle: Her face was marked with deep wrinkles as she smiled.

Can I use Crease and Wrinkle interchangeably?

Not always. Crease and Wrinkle are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.