as in disintegration
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as in deteriorating
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 crumbling
Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Winter storms left its gazebo teetering, 50 feet of asphalt crumbling, and a dramatic 6 foot drop down to the sand.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
The media covers it as a flash fire, not as a symptom of more dry rot in the crumbling of decorum and decency.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Mar. 2026
As a seasoned journalist, writer, media analyst and a close observer of recent developments in AI, the exec offered a sharp insight into how rapidly developing technology is contributing to the crumbling of our understanding of media.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
As the tree grows, the roots will push out and possibly up, causing cracks and crumbling of the surfaces.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
The introduction of Allen Klein [the notorious business manager whom Lennon advocated to take over the Beatles' affairs] precipitates the band’s crumbling.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 26 Feb. 2026
Besides preventing mold and mildew, cleaning will also taper unpleasant odors and prevent cracking and crumbling of your seal.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Leveling threats of tariffs on adversaries and allies alike has been relatively easy, but the result has been a weakening of the economy and American trade ties, and a crumbling of the old global-trade system.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026
Our work behind the scenes keeps the whole edifice from crumbling—at least for now.
—Pablo Strauss, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
At the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission headquarters in Virginia, staff knew their crumbling asphalt parking lot was in desperate need of repair.
—Aya Diab, Fortune, 23 May 2026
But many exiles believe the revolution founded by Fidel and Raul Castro is crumbling and additional pressure is all that’s needed to hasten a now inevitable collapse.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 20 May 2026
Fort Worth property owners could have another fee tacked onto their monthly water bills — this one to help fix the city’s crumbling streets.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
The final sentence feels apt given that Starmer’s Labour administration is crumbling.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Ortiz, in turn, said the district suffered from issues like food deserts and crumbling infrastructure, despite Campos’s lengthy tenure on the council.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
Starmer was supposed to be the adult in the room, a competent former chief prosecutor who could not only end the personality politics of Britain’s governing class but also address its crumbling public services and sense of wider societal malaise.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 12 May 2026
Noun
The video marked the crumbling of his alibi, legal experts told CNN at the time.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Winter storms left its gazebo teetering, 50 feet of asphalt crumbling, and a dramatic 6 foot drop down to the sand.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
The media covers it as a flash fire, not as a symptom of more dry rot in the crumbling of decorum and decency.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Mar. 2026
As a seasoned journalist, writer, media analyst and a close observer of recent developments in AI, the exec offered a sharp insight into how rapidly developing technology is contributing to the crumbling of our understanding of media.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
As the tree grows, the roots will push out and possibly up, causing cracks and crumbling of the surfaces.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
The introduction of Allen Klein [the notorious business manager whom Lennon advocated to take over the Beatles' affairs] precipitates the band’s crumbling.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 26 Feb. 2026
Besides preventing mold and mildew, cleaning will also taper unpleasant odors and prevent cracking and crumbling of your seal.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Leveling threats of tariffs on adversaries and allies alike has been relatively easy, but the result has been a weakening of the economy and American trade ties, and a crumbling of the old global-trade system.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
The fireball expands out and covers the entire launch pad as the fuselage of the rocket can be seen crumbling into the flames.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026
Our work behind the scenes keeps the whole edifice from crumbling—at least for now.
—Pablo Strauss, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
At the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission headquarters in Virginia, staff knew their crumbling asphalt parking lot was in desperate need of repair.
—Aya Diab, Fortune, 23 May 2026
But many exiles believe the revolution founded by Fidel and Raul Castro is crumbling and additional pressure is all that’s needed to hasten a now inevitable collapse.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 20 May 2026
Fort Worth property owners could have another fee tacked onto their monthly water bills — this one to help fix the city’s crumbling streets.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
The final sentence feels apt given that Starmer’s Labour administration is crumbling.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Ortiz, in turn, said the district suffered from issues like food deserts and crumbling infrastructure, despite Campos’s lengthy tenure on the council.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
Starmer was supposed to be the adult in the room, a competent former chief prosecutor who could not only end the personality politics of Britain’s governing class but also address its crumbling public services and sense of wider societal malaise.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumbling
Noun
-
There were reasons aplenty for the disintegration of their form.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
This test will also be suborbital and is aimed at showing the new hardware works as expected; most previous Starship tests have ended in an explosion or with the disintegration of the rocket, although the most recent two tests were successful.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
But higher oil prices — particularly if the conflict in the Middle East escalates — or a deteriorating labor market could make the consumer slowdown sharper than currently anticipated.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
-
Raman, who endorsed Bass’ reelection bid only to launch a surprise campaign to unseat her, said the incumbent lacked urgency on an array of issues, including production of new apartments, fixing deteriorating streets and sidewalks, and halting the exodus of entertainment industry jobs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The attack in al-Murrah, near contested Barah, underscores RSF’s tightening hold over resource-rich Darfur and Kordofan and the worsening humanitarian crisis engulfing civilians.—
Fatma Khaled,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
New pipelines and fossil fuel plants generate millions of dollars for fossil fuel companies and utilities, while locking young people into decades more of pollution and worsening climate change.—
Sydney Collins,
Hartford Courant,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Most of the deaths along the pass have happened while climbers are descending.—
Becky Bohrer,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Today, rumors circulating on social media in the DRC include false claims that Ebola is not real, that humanitarian workers are descending on the area solely for their own profit and that aid groups are withholding the best care available.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Writers and reporters at the conference are learning how to improve their coverage of topics, including changes to education at the federal and state levels, the use of artificial intelligence in schools, and declining enrollment.—
Kellye Lynn,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
As Hartford education officials work to mitigate a large budget deficit, a report from an outside firm The Connecticut State Department of Education hired to review Hartford Public Schools’ financials found that declining enrollment and decisions regarding salaries and hiring are to blame.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumbling. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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