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
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Recent Examples of crumble
This is putting pressure on the surrounding basalt, which, in some instances, is causing the rocks to crack and crumble.
—
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2025
Both have been neglected for years: Bridges are crumbling, school buildings disintegrating, and trains — once a symbol of German efficiency — are now so unreliable that some lines are banned from neighboring Switzerland’s railways.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 4 June 2025
Bullets that fly off the frame of the film now find a landing spot, as building walls shatter and crumble around us.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Acknowledging that is the difference between a network that meets the known and unknown demands of the future and one that crumbles under its own weight.
—Pavel Bykov, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for crumble
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2025
Both have been neglected for years: Bridges are crumbling, school buildings disintegrating, and trains — once a symbol of German efficiency — are now so unreliable that some lines are banned from neighboring Switzerland’s railways.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 4 June 2025
Bullets that fly off the frame of the film now find a landing spot, as building walls shatter and crumble around us.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Acknowledging that is the difference between a network that meets the known and unknown demands of the future and one that crumbles under its own weight.
—Pavel Bykov, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for crumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumble
Verb
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Fiscal Policy Without exception, the fiscal position of large countries, including the United States, as measured by government debt relative to GDP, deteriorated due to the impact of spending during the pandemic.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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But the age and condition of the fleet could deteriorate further, even with an infusion of cash to buy new equipment, because the wait times are so long.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Verb
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As the disease worsens, these sores often develop umbilication, a small dent in the skin that resembles a belly button.—
Francisco J. Rivera Rosario,
Health,
7 June 2025
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Empty office spaces, slumping rents, sky-high office vacancies, and a meltdown in real estate values have coalesced into a worsening commercial property market in the Bay Area.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
Verb
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In November 1990, more than 3,000 women descended on the sleepy beach town of San Bernardo del Tuyú, Argentina, for what was becoming a legendary event.—
Marta Martínez,
NPR,
8 June 2025
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But on one March evening, these hulking installations were just a backdrop: Goose, and 1,000 of its most ardent fans, descended on the space for a special event promoting the ascendant Connecticut jam band’s new album, Everything Must Go (released April 25).—
Lyndsey Havens,
Billboard,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The April 11 ruling came during a hearing in Maryland, where a Justice Department attorney declined to provide basic details about Abrego Garcia’s whereabouts.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
7 June 2025
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Blain declined to comment on the lawsuit after it was filed.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumble. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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