crumbled; crumbling
ˈkrəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
: to break into small pieces
1
: to fall into small pieces : disintegrate
2
: to break down completely : collapse
marriages crumble
1
: something crumbled : fine debris
2
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
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
The show, held in a crumbling 19th-century villa on the outskirts of the city, was inspired by planetary alignment, archaeological ruins and global unity, says Schnaider, 34.
—Alexa Brazilian, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Chase them with a sweet apple crumble or guava and cheese pastry.
—Loán Lake, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crumble
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Verb
Bringing the battle home for players to storm brownstones in Brooklyn Heights or desperately traverse a crumbling Manhattan Bridge is effectively scary — for most people.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
The show, held in a crumbling 19th-century villa on the outskirts of the city, was inspired by planetary alignment, archaeological ruins and global unity, says Schnaider, 34.
—Alexa Brazilian, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
Unearthed donations could shake up key governor race as key Democrat attack crumbles.
—FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Chase them with a sweet apple crumble or guava and cheese pastry.
—Loán Lake, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crumble
Cite this Entry
“Crumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crumble. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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