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
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
Additionally, decorations made of thin plastics, foam, or fabric don’t age well in hot attics, often melting, crumbling, or attracting pests.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
However, the Facebook post specified that despite the building crumbling, business at The Singing Chef Cafe has been thriving.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Dec. 2025
The essay moves through three parts, from an opening scene of conflict to a middle section that narrates how Didion gradually grew to distrust police, and onto a last section that reflects on the crumbling of police authority and credibility.
—Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
This familial crumbling due to politics is very present today.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025
ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Failing to correct problems can lead to crumbling home foundations, rotting wood, mold growth, and a proliferation of pests, including termites.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Shortly after the Anthropic agreement came crumbling down last month, Sam Altman’s OpenAI reached an agreement with the Pentagon to allow use of the startup’s AI models and tools.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
There are, needless to say, daddy issues aplenty here — with Daddy himself out of the fray, retired to a grandly crumbling rural estate, grieving the deaths of his young daughter and devoted brother, and very gradually writing his memoirs.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
The current wave of pauses in fashion isn’t a sign that the industry is crumbling.
—Essence, 3 Mar. 2026
Iran's economy was crumbling, due in large part to stringent Western sanctions, fueling more unrest.
—Jackie Northam, NPR, 28 Feb. 2026
The Howard County School Board voted on its 2027 fiscal year budget and finalized future spending plans, but families are concerned about the crumbling schools that have been forgotten.
—Bryant Reed, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
In Wilmington, near the busiest port in the country, crumbling sidewalks would be fixed and a new traffic signal and high-visibility crosswalks would be added.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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
Additionally, decorations made of thin plastics, foam, or fabric don’t age well in hot attics, often melting, crumbling, or attracting pests.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
However, the Facebook post specified that despite the building crumbling, business at The Singing Chef Cafe has been thriving.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Dec. 2025
The essay moves through three parts, from an opening scene of conflict to a middle section that narrates how Didion gradually grew to distrust police, and onto a last section that reflects on the crumbling of police authority and credibility.
—Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
This familial crumbling due to politics is very present today.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025
Verb
The blackout, the second such outage to affect western Cuba in three months, was blamed on a crumbling electric grid and a lack of fuel.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Failing to correct problems can lead to crumbling home foundations, rotting wood, mold growth, and a proliferation of pests, including termites.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Shortly after the Anthropic agreement came crumbling down last month, Sam Altman’s OpenAI reached an agreement with the Pentagon to allow use of the startup’s AI models and tools.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
There are, needless to say, daddy issues aplenty here — with Daddy himself out of the fray, retired to a grandly crumbling rural estate, grieving the deaths of his young daughter and devoted brother, and very gradually writing his memoirs.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
The current wave of pauses in fashion isn’t a sign that the industry is crumbling.
—Essence, 3 Mar. 2026
Iran's economy was crumbling, due in large part to stringent Western sanctions, fueling more unrest.
—Jackie Northam, NPR, 28 Feb. 2026
The Howard County School Board voted on its 2027 fiscal year budget and finalized future spending plans, but families are concerned about the crumbling schools that have been forgotten.
—Bryant Reed, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
In Wilmington, near the busiest port in the country, crumbling sidewalks would be fixed and a new traffic signal and high-visibility crosswalks would be added.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumbling
Noun
-
Shirley Jackson walked around her neighborhood feeling perilously close to disintegration.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
-
But this past year, as international assistance was slashed, she's seen the disintegration of much of what she's built.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The two-time Oscar winner captures Garland in showstopper mode and, with spine curved and cigarette in hand, deftly communicates Garland's deteriorating state and the toll of her struggles with addiction.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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Ollongren also warned of the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and the war’s adverse effects on human rights in Iran and the broader region.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Perched between China and India, the country of 30 million people has been plagued for decades by political instability, crippling a largely agrarian economy and worsening unemployment – structural issues compounded by rampant corruption.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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Over 115,000 Afghans and 3,000 Pakistanis have been displaced by the conflict, with the UN warning of worsening humanitarian crises.—
Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Formula 1 returns to Australia this weekend, descending on the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne once again.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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The drone footage of the skiers descending the dizzying glacier is quite the payoff.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Iranian retaliatory attacks appear to be declining — ballistic missile strikes have fallen by 90% and drone attacks by 83%, according to US Central Command — potentially easing pressure on Gulf states that have faced Iranian strikes in recent days.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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Instead of coming from declining direct-to-home satellite taxes, the money would come directly from state sales and use taxes.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumbling. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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