crumbly

adjective

crum·​bly ˈkrəm-b(ə-)lē 

crumblier; crumbliest

: easily crumbled : friable

crumbly soil

crumbliness noun

Synonyms of crumbly

• brittle
• crisp
• friable

Examples of crumbly in a Sentence

a crumbly shortbread cookie

Recent Examples on the Web

Add butter, and stir together using a rubber spatula until a crumbly dough forms. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 10 July 2026

This rendition of shortbread has all the flavor of a classic carrot cake, in a crumbly, buttery cookie form. — Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026

Too often, the crust is defined by its crumbly, hard-to-slice nature. — Rachel Dolfi, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 July 2026

But for foods that are more crumbly and less stain-y, Miss Manners finds leather (or a stain-resistant slippery equivalent) a helpful material for getting things to slide right to the floor. — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for crumbly

• dumbly
• humbly
• numbly

Kids Definition

crumbly

adjective

crum·​bly -b(ə-)lē 

crumblier; crumbliest

: easily crumbled