crumble

verb

ˈkrəm-bəl How to pronounce crumble (audio)
Definition of crumblenext
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value the stock of the energy company crumbled after the revelations of fraud and mismanagement

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 crumble The video shows the building shaking and crumbling as onlookers scream before the structure ultimately gives way. — Eric MacK , Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Other indications of decay include hollow areas, crumbling wood, and peeling bark. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026 The plumbing was failing, the floors were uneven and posed tripping hazards, the foundation was crumbling and sewage sometimes backed up into a corner of the kitchen. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 7 Aug. 2026 After standing for more than a century, a piece of Tarentum's history is starting to crumble right in the middle of town. — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumble
  1. deteriorate
  2. descend
  3. worsen
  4. decline
Verb
  • An agreement between Tehran and Washington is yet to materialize, with prospects for a deal appearing to deteriorate over the weekend.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In the provincial capital Pontianak, schools suspended in-person classes after air quality deteriorated to unhealthy levels and health officials reported a rise in respiratory illnesses.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Verb
  • The friends eventually grew bored and went back to their cocktails, but the rest of the viewers continued watching as the dancer descended the museum’s outdoor staircase and linked up with four others below.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Midnight Madness also has a first look for Kick On, an action horror thriller from Nick Kozakis, and about a night of partying by four friends descending into a spiral of paranoia, violence and betrayals.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of descend
Verb
  • Haze has worsened in Malaysia’s Sarawak state, which shares a border with Indonesia’s Kalimantan province on Borneo.
    — Trisnadi, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • More than 50 hectares (124 acres) of peatland have burned in Jambi province on Sumatra island, causing choking haze in some areas and raising concerns about worsening air quality.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of worsen
Verb
  • The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, has released reports on declining inventories based on budget documents and other public information.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Nike had the option to match the adidas offer and declined, making way for the three-stripe era.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of decline

Browse Nearby Words

crumb
crumble
crumbled
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Cite this Entry

“Crumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumble. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crumble

Nglish: Translation of crumble for Spanish Speakers

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