crumbles

verb

present tense third-person singular of crumble
as in deteriorates
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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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 crumbles When new, concrete possesses a thin, temporarily protective layer that, if not maintained, will wear away, exposing the interior, which gradually crumbles. — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 The Packers’ identity is that of a team that can’t shut the door, one that crumbles when momentum turns in a hostile away environment. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 All of the big talk about personal drive, which makes Free Solo so darkly compelling, immediately crumbles into selfish pablum the second that children are introduced into the equation. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026 The person crumbles to the ground and gets hauled off to the hoosegow. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026 That is the moment that everything crumbles for Rachel. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 May 2026 Loyalty, betrayal, illness and war all bear down on the group as the old order crumbles around them. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026 The song was inspired by surviving a toxic relationship, and then finding a true-hearted love that crumbles emotional walls. — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 15 Jan. 2026 Academic success means little if a child crumbles under stress. — Dr. Mona Amin, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumbles
  1. deteriorates
  2. descends
  3. worsens
  4. declines
Verb
  • If the unrest continues, confidence deteriorates further or market tensions intensify, growth could be even weaker.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • As her brother Aldwin’s mental health deteriorates, Lil considers risking her future to travel to him.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of deteriorates
Verb
  • As the meal goes on and Rob seems to become increasingly inebriated, the night descends into nonsensical confrontations between Rob and the bartender, Rob and producers, Rob and his brother, and, finally, Rob and Michaella.
    — Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The rest of the film quickly descends into various levels of nightmarish weirdness.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of descends
Verb
  • Although researchers and experts know that hormonal changes can influence how the nervous system processes pain and may heighten pain sensitivity, researchers have yet to establish whether declining estrogen directly worsens fibromyalgia.
    — Cheyenne Buckingham, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026
  • French bond turmoil worsens French social and political volatility is compounded by an emerging fiscal crisis, which on Thursday pushed its benchmark government borrowing cost to a fresh 24-year high.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of worsens
Verb
  • The Salt Lake County clerk requests assistance to secure the polls, but the sheriff, unsure about jurisdiction, declines.
    — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Steep declines across the tech space, led by Meta and the chip sector, saw Nasdaq log its worst day since June.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of declines

Browse Nearby Words

crumbled
crumbles
crumbliness
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Cite this Entry

“Crumbles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumbles. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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