as in brittle
having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure
a crumbly shortbread cookie
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crumbly
The soil should be loose and crumbly, not dense or matted.
—
Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 2 May 2026
But where limestone is crumbly and opaque, nacre’s toughness and light-bending properties come from silklike proteins that weave among the layers, holding them in place while providing enough elasticity to absorb the shock of a fracture.
—Caitlin Kennedy, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2026
Using a wooden spoon, stir until a crumbly dough is formed.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
In America, scones are usually triangular, err on the crumbly and dense side, are loaded with mix-ins, and may be savory or sweet.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumbly
Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 2 May 2026
But where limestone is crumbly and opaque, nacre’s toughness and light-bending properties come from silklike proteins that weave among the layers, holding them in place while providing enough elasticity to absorb the shock of a fracture.
—Caitlin Kennedy, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2026
Using a wooden spoon, stir until a crumbly dough is formed.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
In America, scones are usually triangular, err on the crumbly and dense side, are loaded with mix-ins, and may be savory or sweet.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumbly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumbly
Adjective
-
Over time, natural feathers can become brittle, break, or shed, which reduces their ability to attract dust.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
-
It’s made with conditioning peptides that actively strengthen and protect lashes, while panthenol, a form of vitamin B5, keeps them soft and flexible rather than brittle or flaky.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Longoria took a more casual approach with her look, but the crisp shade made the outfit appear put-together.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
Creamy corn, crisp crumb topping, and melty cheese just seal the deal.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The second bottle, with confetti-ish contents, was equally useless—whatever had been inside had broken down into a friable mess.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
27 Apr. 2026
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However, the fragile and friable nature of aged amber likely posed a significant challenge to its removal.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumbly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumbly. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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