as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the stock of the energy company crumbled after the revelations of fraud and mismanagement
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Recent Examples of crumble
The little infrastructure propping the country up crumbled.
—
Elizabeth Germino, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
Toki died waiting in a filthy, crumbling tank at one of the oldest marine parks in the world.
—Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
New Chicago town manager Sue Pelfrey launched the project because its 100-year-old town hall sustained several roof leaks and its masonry was crumbling.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Premier League champions Liverpool lost 1-0 at Galatasaray, while Manchester City were thrashed 3-0 by Real in Madrid and Chelsea crumbled to lose 5-2 in Paris.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumble
Elizabeth Germino, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
Toki died waiting in a filthy, crumbling tank at one of the oldest marine parks in the world.
—Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
New Chicago town manager Sue Pelfrey launched the project because its 100-year-old town hall sustained several roof leaks and its masonry was crumbling.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Premier League champions Liverpool lost 1-0 at Galatasaray, while Manchester City were thrashed 3-0 by Real in Madrid and Chelsea crumbled to lose 5-2 in Paris.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumble
Verb
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Their goal was to get control over their local water supply like their neighbors, in order to upgrade deteriorating infrastructure and rein in rising water rates.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
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The turtle slows, more organisms attach, and the animal’s condition deteriorates.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Our subsequent Nora movie nights had to be spaced apart because a pall descended and lingered for days after them.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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As the summer air thickens with diffused sunlight and harsh humidity, a psychological fog descends on our young protagonist.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If conditions worsen, the state will move into phase three.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Carolina Rodriguez, director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program in New York, said the backlog for relief programs could worsen as borrowers in the now-defunct Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan submit applications to access a new repayment plan.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Scientists disagree on whether these young trees will mature into forest giants or decline due to drought and a warming climate.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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But exactly how the tragedy unfolded has remained unclear and the Pentagon has declined comment, saying the investigation remains ongoing.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumble. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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