as in disintegration
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as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
the stock of the energy company crumbled after the revelations of fraud and mismanagement
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Recent Examples of crumbling
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Mar. 2026
As a seasoned journalist, writer, media analyst and a close observer of recent developments in AI, the exec offered a sharp insight into how rapidly developing technology is contributing to the crumbling of our understanding of media.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
As the tree grows, the roots will push out and possibly up, causing cracks and crumbling of the surfaces.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
The introduction of Allen Klein [the notorious business manager whom Lennon advocated to take over the Beatles' affairs] precipitates the band’s crumbling.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 26 Feb. 2026
Besides preventing mold and mildew, cleaning will also taper unpleasant odors and prevent cracking and crumbling of your seal.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Leveling threats of tariffs on adversaries and allies alike has been relatively easy, but the result has been a weakening of the economy and American trade ties, and a crumbling of the old global-trade system.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Additionally, decorations made of thin plastics, foam, or fabric don’t age well in hot attics, often melting, crumbling, or attracting pests.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
However, the Facebook post specified that despite the building crumbling, business at The Singing Chef Cafe has been thriving.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Dec. 2025
Eric Henderson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
However, that all came crumbling down in March 2023 when Madix discovered that her partner of nearly a decade was having a months-long affair with her close friend and costar, Leviss.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
There were also rumblings, according to Vaccaro, about the team possibly being courted to a new stadium in New Jersey that would have had a fresh look compared to the crumbling Yankee Stadium that was hoping for city funding to make integral repairs.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
For more than a decade, South Africa’s economy has barely grown, leaving it with crumbling infrastructure and the need to create jobs in a country where one in three people are unemployed.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 1 Apr. 2026
From government to education to the workplace, DEI is crumbling.
—Greg Cote
updated March 30, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
After crumbling due to the pressure at the Olympics, Malinin soared at the Figure Skating World Championships, putting on a strong short program before a clean free skate to give him his third-straight men's world title.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
The crumbling industrial scenery by Riccardo Hernández is visually stunning and versatile, and it’s gorgeously illuminated by lighting designer Robert Wierzel.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Surrounded by vicious and violent hitmen that have been pressed into service as childcare, Juan Pablo must reckon with his father's crumbling power and find his own way in the world after his death.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
The media covers it as a flash fire, not as a symptom of more dry rot in the crumbling of decorum and decency.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Mar. 2026
As a seasoned journalist, writer, media analyst and a close observer of recent developments in AI, the exec offered a sharp insight into how rapidly developing technology is contributing to the crumbling of our understanding of media.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
As the tree grows, the roots will push out and possibly up, causing cracks and crumbling of the surfaces.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
The introduction of Allen Klein [the notorious business manager whom Lennon advocated to take over the Beatles' affairs] precipitates the band’s crumbling.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 26 Feb. 2026
Besides preventing mold and mildew, cleaning will also taper unpleasant odors and prevent cracking and crumbling of your seal.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Leveling threats of tariffs on adversaries and allies alike has been relatively easy, but the result has been a weakening of the economy and American trade ties, and a crumbling of the old global-trade system.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Additionally, decorations made of thin plastics, foam, or fabric don’t age well in hot attics, often melting, crumbling, or attracting pests.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
However, the Facebook post specified that despite the building crumbling, business at The Singing Chef Cafe has been thriving.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Dec. 2025
Verb
The foundation of the house was crumbling, so Michigan Humane called the Detroit Fire Department for assistance.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
However, that all came crumbling down in March 2023 when Madix discovered that her partner of nearly a decade was having a months-long affair with her close friend and costar, Leviss.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
There were also rumblings, according to Vaccaro, about the team possibly being courted to a new stadium in New Jersey that would have had a fresh look compared to the crumbling Yankee Stadium that was hoping for city funding to make integral repairs.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
For more than a decade, South Africa’s economy has barely grown, leaving it with crumbling infrastructure and the need to create jobs in a country where one in three people are unemployed.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 1 Apr. 2026
From government to education to the workplace, DEI is crumbling.
—Greg Cote
updated March 30, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
After crumbling due to the pressure at the Olympics, Malinin soared at the Figure Skating World Championships, putting on a strong short program before a clean free skate to give him his third-straight men's world title.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
The crumbling industrial scenery by Riccardo Hernández is visually stunning and versatile, and it’s gorgeously illuminated by lighting designer Robert Wierzel.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Surrounded by vicious and violent hitmen that have been pressed into service as childcare, Juan Pablo must reckon with his father's crumbling power and find his own way in the world after his death.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumbling
Noun
-
Could Iran end up like Libya, where a NATO air campaign in 2011 helped topple a decades-old dictatorship, but paved the way for the disintegration of the Libyan state into a thicket of rival factions and warring militias?—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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When expectation and reality part ways for a cohort that’s been raised on the assumption of upward mobility—when elites start to sink, and reform is blocked—the political waters get very rough, often leading to social disintegration and unrest.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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First, can spores and nutrients in a solid form be mixed in a workable concrete without deteriorating it?—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The alert, issued Monday morning, warns residents in Sunriver, Camp Sherman, Sisters and La Pine to prepare for dangerous travel and rapidly deteriorating conditions once the heavy snow strikes.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This also might be an opportunity to express your concern about his worsening drinking and ask him to get help.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
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But with one-fifth of the world’s oil supply still largely bottled up in the Persian Gulf, which provides more than 80% of Asia’s energy supplies, shortages are worsening and getting hard to stave off with contingency measures.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Video from the rescue shows the helicopter descending near the Seneca River and then hovering over the water, where the dog is struggling to keep its head above the surface.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
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But then, suddenly, a silhouette appears, quickly descending those stairs.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
European luxury is entering a high-stakes first-quarter reporting period as sentiment has taken a decisive hit, just as many of the sector's big names were nearing a turning point after years of declining sales.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Royal Navy has shrunk dramatically since the Cold War ended, with combat-ready ships declining from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025, following decades of military spending cuts.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumbling. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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