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 To Kelce, this loss was apparent as last season was crumbling. — Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 Her relationship with the disapproving Klitschko soon began to crumble. — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026 The asphalt had crumbled into massive chunks when heavy rain and flooding struck the city about 50 miles east of Indianapolis earlier this week. — Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 17 Aug. 2026 Video shows buildings crumbling to the ground, and rescuers digging through debris in search of people. — Connor Greene, Time, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumble
  1. deteriorate
  2. descend
  3. worsen
  4. decline
Verb
  • Behrouz Mehri | Afp | Getty Images France's deteriorating public finances and political deadlock are becoming a growing concern for bond investors, with borrowing costs near financial-crisis-era highs as another difficult budget battle looms.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Israel has seen its own relations with Turkey deteriorate during Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s more than two-decade rule.
    — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Verb
  • After descending in a metal cage elevator, Riff Raff removes his cape, revealing Frank-N-Furter in a corset, fishnets and pearls.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Video captured by security cameras perched on the mountainside show the horrifying moment when the wall of mud descended on the Gyirong Port facility, swallowing the six-story building whole as dozens of people run for their lives.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of descend
Verb
  • Ford said in an interview published Monday that Canada should be prepared to cut off electricity exports to the United States if the trade war worsens, putting a potentially powerful weapon on the table.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • According to a recent survey published by Deloitte, consumer sentiment remains shaky, with 57% of Americans expecting the economy to worsen in the next six months — the highest figure the company has reported since 2020.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of worsen
Verb
  • However, entering June, crude prices pulled back significantly, while retail gasoline prices declined at a markedly slower pace.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • At home several center-right parties initially declined to join his coalition, illustrating the challenge of uniting the broader Brazilian right behind his candidacy.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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