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
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
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
Alana Wise, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
The money is expected to now be invested in the island’s crumbling power grid, which was razed by Hurricane Maria in 2017 but was already deteriorated given a lack of investment and maintenance.
—Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
High-quality craftsmanship—like the common space’s dark-wood pillars, reclaimed from Rajasthan’s crumbling havelis—is paired with standout accessories within each suite (think Häfele kettles and organic toiletries smelling of neroli and ylang-ylang).
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
Rolling blackouts, exploding manholes, and a crumbling energy grid have nothing to do with socialism.
—Shahana Hanif, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Other signs warned of danger from crumbling masonry overhead, though there was none of the scaffolding that might accompany such notices.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Chloe Lamford’s set is a kind of postindustrial purgatory — a towering, crumbling old garage, decades of dust and dirt gathered at the feet of its pillars.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
The gazebo at Southold Town Beach is teetering over crumbling asphalt.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Lori seems to be a bit of a blank slate, both to Julian’s bumbling children and to Julian himself, who thinks Lori has been hired as his assistant to help manage his affairs and sort through the paintings littering his crumbling abode.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
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
Verb
Proponents of the extensions say the country remains wracked by gang violence and crumbling medical infrastructure.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
The money is expected to now be invested in the island’s crumbling power grid, which was razed by Hurricane Maria in 2017 but was already deteriorated given a lack of investment and maintenance.
—Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
High-quality craftsmanship—like the common space’s dark-wood pillars, reclaimed from Rajasthan’s crumbling havelis—is paired with standout accessories within each suite (think Häfele kettles and organic toiletries smelling of neroli and ylang-ylang).
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
Rolling blackouts, exploding manholes, and a crumbling energy grid have nothing to do with socialism.
—Shahana Hanif, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Other signs warned of danger from crumbling masonry overhead, though there was none of the scaffolding that might accompany such notices.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Chloe Lamford’s set is a kind of postindustrial purgatory — a towering, crumbling old garage, decades of dust and dirt gathered at the feet of its pillars.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
The gazebo at Southold Town Beach is teetering over crumbling asphalt.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Lori seems to be a bit of a blank slate, both to Julian’s bumbling children and to Julian himself, who thinks Lori has been hired as his assistant to help manage his affairs and sort through the paintings littering his crumbling abode.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumbling
Noun
-
The British, too, were able to gain ascendancy by exploiting the political chaos caused by the disintegration of the Mughal Empire.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The emotional power of Miller’s tale has always radiated from disintegration – of Willy, of his family, of his dreams.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kennedy Center leadership is conducting tours with congressional staff and donors to demonstrate that the building needs major renovation due to water damage, HVAC issues and deteriorating infrastructure.—
Steven Sloan,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
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Lake County has taken the first steps towards absorbing the responsibilities of the essentially defunct Del Mar Woods Sanitary District, a tiny government unit consisting of a subdivision with fewer than 90 lots and deteriorating sewer pipes.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Alice Ribes, emergency country director for the International Rescue Committee in Haiti, said millions continue to face a worsening crisis marked by escalating violence, hunger and starvation, forced displacement of people from their homes and outbreaks of disease.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Flooding is worsening in parts of Michigan on Friday, with rivers still rising in some parts and receding in others.—
Terrance Friday,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After separation, the weapon follows a steep ballistic trajectory, descending at high velocity toward its target.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
-
That, of course, can’t last forever, and soon enough, the entire family is descending on Malcolm’s life, turning it upside down.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office also reviewed evidence from West Jordan before declining to file charges.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Birth rates and fertility trends The administration is overhauling Title X in the context of declining birth rates.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumbling. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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