crumble

1 of 2

verb

crum·​ble ˈkrəm-bəl 

crumbled; crumbling ˈkrəm-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to break into small pieces

intransitive verb

1

: to fall into small pieces : disintegrate

2

: to break down completely : collapse

marriages crumble

crumble

2 of 2

noun

1

: something crumbled : fine debris

2

: crisp sense 2

Synonyms of crumble

Verb

• deteriorate
• descend
• worsen
• decline

Examples of crumble in a Sentence

Verb

Crumble the cookies into small bits.

The recipe calls for the herbs to be crumbled.

bones so old they had crumbled to dust

She was extremely depressed after her marriage crumbled.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Although the terror group’s caliphate crumbled in 2019, ISIS has been gaining young American followers willing to take their violent direction. — Jeff Winter, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026

The book describes trips to the archive, and then off into the ruins of the asylum, which were crumbling and also being turned into condominiums. — Robert Sullivan, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2026

Noun

Higher margins mean nothing if your supply chain crumbles during a crisis. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Charlie Brown's beverage combines mocha with pumpkin spice flavors and pumpkin spice cold foam, while Snoopy's drink is a vanilla bean and white mocha base that's finished with pumpkin spice cold foam and crunchy cookie crumbles. — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of Middle English kremelen, frequentative of Old English gecrymian to crumble, from cruma

First Known Use

Verb

1547, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for crumble

• bumble
• fumble
• grumble
• humble
• jumble
• mumble
• rumble
• stumble
• tumble
• umbel

Kids Definition

crumble

verb

crum·​ble

ˈkrəm-bəl

crumbled; crumbling

-b(ə-)liŋ

1

: to break into small pieces

crumble bread

2

: to fall into ruin

relationships crumble