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

Facing some quickly crumbling opposition from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Prop 50 was instigated as a response to Trump’s desire to retain GOP control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterms via surgical gerrymandering in Red States like Texas. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025

Hearing the doctor’s words, Laura Dern felt the walls crumbling around her. —Julie Jordan, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025

Noun

Cover with crumble topping (see below). —Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Nov. 2025

The sweet treat can be made with either a chocolate or vanilla signature Frosty base, and is then blended with snickerdoodle cookie sauce and topped off with real cookie crumbles. —Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025

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