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
Chloe Lamford’s set is a kind of postindustrial purgatory — a towering, crumbling old garage, decades of dust and dirt gathered at the feet of its pillars.
—
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
The longtime leader — whom critics accuse of undermining democracy and whose government has been reported to have worked closely with Moscow to undermine European sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine — has seen his support crumble over economic mismanagement and alleged corruption.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Lori seems to be a bit of a blank slate, both to Julian’s bumbling children and to Julian himself, who thinks Lori has been hired as his assistant to help manage his affairs and sort through the paintings littering his crumbling abode.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
In Lemann’s books, as in Joan Didion’s, the whole edifice is always beginning to crumble.
—Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumble
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
The longtime leader — whom critics accuse of undermining democracy and whose government has been reported to have worked closely with Moscow to undermine European sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine — has seen his support crumble over economic mismanagement and alleged corruption.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Lori seems to be a bit of a blank slate, both to Julian’s bumbling children and to Julian himself, who thinks Lori has been hired as his assistant to help manage his affairs and sort through the paintings littering his crumbling abode.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
In Lemann’s books, as in Joan Didion’s, the whole edifice is always beginning to crumble.
—Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumble
Verb
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Despite his professional success, his home life deteriorates, particularly his relationship with his daughter.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
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The lawsuit says the hospital did not tell his family that Hylton’s condition had deteriorated and that he had been transferred to the ICU without a doctor on-site.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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A day that had started with the promise of a procession towards another green jacket had descended into a scenic – and unwelcome – navigation of the Augusta National course.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
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As the Transit officers descended down to the 4/5/6 platform, one of Griffin’s victims came staggering up the stairs, seeking medial attention, Tisch said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Deaths have suddenly spiked among the feral horses living on an isolated North Carolina island, and researchers say it’s linked to rising sea level and worsening coastal erosion.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
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This leads to a vicious cycle, as the disease causes sleep disruption, and sleep disruption then worsens the disease, according to the researchers.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His parents declined to comment to reporters afterward.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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The new listings, published Wednesday by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, cite factors such as warming ocean waters, melting sea ice and declining availability of food to sustain such species.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumble. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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