crumbled 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of crumblednext
as in disintegrated

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crumbled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of crumble
as in deteriorated
to become worse or of less value the stock of the energy company crumbled after the revelations of fraud and mismanagement

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 crumbled
Adjective
The pre-crumbled stuff will be too dry for this salad, which benefits from the creaminess of the fresh stuff stored in water or brine. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 June 2026 Top with crumbled cheese, drizzle of crema, dollops of salsa verde, and garnish of lime and cilantro. — Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
He was fed up as the nation’s vaccine system crumbled around him. — Lena H. Sun, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2026 The company crumbled after John Carreyrou, then a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, broke the story in 2015 that Theranos wasn’t using its own technology to run most of its blood tests. — Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crumbled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumbled
  1. deteriorated
  2. descended
  3. corroded
  4. worsened
  5. contaminated
  6. declined
  7. tainted
Adjective
  • Clark said the supports are needed because equipment used in the investigation is too heavy and difficult to maneuver safely on the deteriorated floor.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • According to the officer, the decision to classify Sands' death as such was the result of the deteriorated condition of his body.
    — Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026
Definition of deteriorated
Verb
  • One day before voters will ultimately choose between them, gubernatorial candidates Byron Donalds and David Jolly descended upon an unlikely battleground — ruby red Polk County, where Democrats are turning out at a higher rate than Republicans.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
  • This July, some ten thousand people descended on London for the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of descended
Adjective
  • The corroded terminal, the location, 30 seconds of video of the noise, the hypothesis that was ruled out.
    — Julien Vantyghem, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • And no amount of paint can fix an unstable, corroded piece of furniture.
    — Felicia Feaster, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of corroded
Verb
  • As conditions worsened overnight, emergency crews sent warnings to evacuate.
    — Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Unusually hot ocean water worsened the sea level rise that peaked during last week’s high tides.
    — Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of worsened
Adjective
  • The audit, released Monday, identified a host of issues, including regulators’ failure to meet regular inspection schedules or to conduct sufficient random checks at dispensaries for contaminated products.
    — Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • To break the chains of infections stemming from contaminated needles, Soqo has proposed supplying thousands of sterile needles and syringes to communities of methamphetamine users.
    — David Cox, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of contaminated
Verb
  • But Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, widely viewed as a potential top contender for the position, has declined to pledge not to run.
    — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Aguilar declined to take the rest of the day off but then activated the fire alarm system after the meeting and tried to leave the building.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of declined
Adjective
  • Will Stewart be seduced into the path of corruption by using Sinestro’s emotionally tainted battery, or steel himself against ill influences and continue to blaze his own trail as Earth's sole protector for the time being?
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Some say that our country is too tainted and that political progress can be had only by extra-legal means.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of tainted

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Cite this Entry

“Crumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumbled. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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