crumbly

adjective

crum·​bly ˈkrəm-b(ə-)lē How to pronounce crumbly (audio)
crumblier; crumbliest
Synonyms of crumblynext
: easily crumbled : friable
crumbly soil
crumbliness noun

Examples of crumbly in a Sentence

a crumbly shortbread cookie
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Slices of cold roast beef, beautiful and rare, come attended by a snowy blob of properly sinus-clearing horseradish cream, with a pickled black walnut on top like the cherry on a sundae and a crumbly wedge of cheddar. Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 17 May 2026 This crumbly, salty aged cheese, made with either goat’s or cow’s milk, adds a sharp, salty flavor to dishes. Rick Bayless, Midwest Living, 13 May 2026 Sprinkle Mexican Cotija cheese over top, or substitute with another salty, crumbly cheese like feta. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 7 May 2026 Here are details on crumbly cotija cheeses that instantly elevate savory dishes, and the tough, chewy crumbles to avoid. Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for crumbly

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crumbly was in 1523

Cite this Entry

“Crumbly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crumbly. Accessed 19 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

crumbly

adjective
crum·​bly -b(ə-)lē How to pronounce crumbly (audio)
crumblier; crumbliest
: easily crumbled

More from Merriam-Webster on crumbly

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster