crumb

noun

ˈkrəm How to pronounce crumb (audio)
Definition of crumbnext
1
as in shred
a very small amount a neglected dog who is desperate for any crumb of affection he might get from strangers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in speck
a very small piece eating pretzels in bed got crumbs between the sheets

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bastard
slang a person whose behavior is offensive to others if I ever start behaving as obnoxiously as those crumbs, be sure to give me a good slap on the kisser

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of crumb Fastidious critics are left with nothing but crumbs to scatter on a trail of discussion leading to the door of a theatre, and readers have to extrapolate critics’ full opinions from the fragmentary account that could be written before release. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026 Uncover and continue baking for 20 to 25 minutes, until the top is puffed and appears dry, and a toothpick inserted into the brownie portion near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Cookie lovers searching the streets of New York City for a certain particularly gooey, thick and chewy dessert were left with crumbs this weekend after a local cookie chain abruptly shut its doors. — New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 Elderly couples surrounded us in somber ceremony, each of them in seats clustered close to one another, some holding hands, their fingers dusted in crumb cake. — Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crumb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumb
  1. shred
  2. speck
  3. jerk
  4. glimmer
  5. fleck
  6. dog
  7. sprinkling
  8. particle
Noun
  • There’s yet to be a shred of evidence that Belichick can build and guide North Carolina’s roster into the kind of behemoth that can go on the road in the ACC, play poorly and win by double digits while barely being threatened with a loss.
    — David Ubben, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Without a shred of evidence, Cloud casually weaponized domestic violence allegations against a fan who was simply cheering for his home team.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of shred
Noun
  • The source was generally in good condition, but mold spots and dense clusters of small white specks required careful treatment.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Breakouts can look like milder, painless white bumps or dark specks known as whiteheads and blackheads, or more painful red bumps and deeper cysts — a mark of cystic acne.
    — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of speck
Noun
  • From award-winning jerk pork wraps to classic rice and peas, every bite celebrates our heritage.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Bella’s childhood friend Angus (Jake Simmance), a corporate jerk, condescendingly probes Johnny about his career.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of jerk
Noun
  • Curt Cignetti has not just provided a championship mindset for the passionate fans that were sitting through days of blowouts and small glimmers of hope in past years.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Still, Crow—the ever-optimist, as her body of work proves—clings on to the glimmers of hope from leaders of the world who do show us the best parts of humanity.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of glimmer
Noun
  • As few as 10 cells, hidden in an infinitesimal fleck of feces, can contaminate raw milk and trigger a fatal infection.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The oversized jacket featured a furry white base adorned with flecks of silver, which beautifully mirrored the sumptuous coats on the runway.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of fleck
Noun
  • Which dog breeds tend to live the longest If longevity is the priority, a handful of smaller breeds routinely post the longest lifespans, according to breed data compiled by Reader’s Digest.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Much has been made of Winter’s idiosyncratic star power, and as an extremely tall, wet-dog-handsome instrumental virtuoso with a one-of-a-kind voice and just enough self-aware wit and lacerating lyricism to keep it relatable, that’s indisputable.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dog
Noun
  • Special teams had had a sprinkling of errors — like the game-opening 81-yard kickoff return Miami allowed — hindered that unit’s performance each week.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
  • As ever, the lineup is a mix of new features from Asia’s best auteurs, a sprinkling of Hollywood movies and projects from up-and-coming filmmakers.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of sprinkling
Noun
  • Highly energetic particles in the solar wind may also have reached the comet in sufficient numbers to heat its surface.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Avoid this by not touching the rash and keeping it covered, as the fluid inside the shingles blisters is what contains the infectious particles.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of particle

Browse Nearby Words

cruising
crumb
crumble
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumb. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All