crumbled; crumbling
ˈkrəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
: to break into small pieces
1
: to fall into small pieces : disintegrate
2
: to break down completely : collapse
marriages crumble
1
: something crumbled : fine debris
2
Synonyms
Examples of crumble in a Sentence
Verb
Crumble the cookies into small bits.
The recipe calls for the herbs to be crumbled.
bones so old they had crumbled to dust
She was extremely depressed after her marriage crumbled.
Recent Examples on the Web
Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 12 Apr. 2024
These are some of the key design concepts that the city unveiled Saturday as part of its efforts to reimagine the iconic but crumbling Ocean Beach Pier and determine its future.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
More big stories Part of Highway 1 near Big Sur crumbled as new landslide closes more of historic roadway.
—Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Many of its problems come with the job running a sprawling media conglomerate in the 2020s: The once-lucrative tent pole of linear TV is rapidly crumbling, while its theoretical replacement, streaming services, are burning through cash.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
About 2,000 people were reportedly stranded by the landslide and crumbling road, including a large number of tourists, the New York Times reports.
—Collin Woodard / Jalopnik, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
The bridge collapsed on March 26 after a massive cargo ship rammed into it, causing the structure to crumble into the Patapsco River and kill six workers who were patching potholes.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
The bridge crumbled early Tuesday after a support column was hit by a large container ship that had lost power, sending people and vehicles into the Patapsco River.
—Rohan Mattu, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2024
Roman emperors once lived there, and their crumbling fortress walls still wind through the landscape.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024
The central mystery of Kate’s disappearance aside, this has been the most fascinating thing about the entire debacle: watching the picture-perfect artifice constructed by the Royal Family crumble to the ground.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024
Then some of that crumbles and some of it leads him in the wrong path.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2024
Set over one year in an isolated 17th century English village, inhabitants turn from prayer to witch-hunting as their society all but crumbles.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024
The spread, priced at $14, comes with queso, pickled jalapeno, taco spiced burger patty, sour cream, and a Frito crumble.
—Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 1 Apr. 2024
One of us is not going to be happy with the other and that's just the way the cookie crumbles and the way this journey works.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2024
All are set in the past, as the British empire crumbles.
—Armond White, National Review, 15 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, the sweet cold brew layers hazelnut syrup with chocolate cream cold foam and a chocolate cookie crumble topping.
—Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 31 Jan. 2024
Verb
Jackie visited the nest at 7:48 p.m., hours after the egg crumbled, and moved fluff and sticks around in the bowl until the two remaining eggs were covered from the camera’s view.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 12 Apr. 2024
These are some of the key design concepts that the city unveiled Saturday as part of its efforts to reimagine the iconic but crumbling Ocean Beach Pier and determine its future.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
More big stories Part of Highway 1 near Big Sur crumbled as new landslide closes more of historic roadway.
—Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Many of its problems come with the job running a sprawling media conglomerate in the 2020s: The once-lucrative tent pole of linear TV is rapidly crumbling, while its theoretical replacement, streaming services, are burning through cash.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
About 2,000 people were reportedly stranded by the landslide and crumbling road, including a large number of tourists, the New York Times reports.
—Collin Woodard / Jalopnik, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
The bridge collapsed on March 26 after a massive cargo ship rammed into it, causing the structure to crumble into the Patapsco River and kill six workers who were patching potholes.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
The bridge crumbled early Tuesday after a support column was hit by a large container ship that had lost power, sending people and vehicles into the Patapsco River.
—Rohan Mattu, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2024
Roman emperors once lived there, and their crumbling fortress walls still wind through the landscape.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
The synthetic rubber of the outfield warning track crumbles beneath your shoes and every 10 seconds or so, the crack of the bat goes off like clockwork.
—Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024
The central mystery of Kate’s disappearance aside, this has been the most fascinating thing about the entire debacle: watching the picture-perfect artifice constructed by the Royal Family crumble to the ground.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024
Then some of that crumbles and some of it leads him in the wrong path.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2024
Set over one year in an isolated 17th century English village, inhabitants turn from prayer to witch-hunting as their society all but crumbles.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024
The spread, priced at $14, comes with queso, pickled jalapeno, taco spiced burger patty, sour cream, and a Frito crumble.
—Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 1 Apr. 2024
One of us is not going to be happy with the other and that's just the way the cookie crumbles and the way this journey works.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2024
All are set in the past, as the British empire crumbles.
—Armond White, National Review, 15 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, the sweet cold brew layers hazelnut syrup with chocolate cream cold foam and a chocolate cookie crumble topping.
—Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crumble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
alteration of Middle English kremelen, frequentative of Old English gecrymian to crumble, from cruma
First Known Use
Verb
1547, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near crumble
Cite this Entry
“Crumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crumble. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
crumble
verb
crum·ble
ˈkrəm-bəl
crumbled; crumbling
-b(ə-)liŋ
1
: to break into small pieces
crumble bread
2
: to fall into ruin
relationships crumble
More from Merriam-Webster on crumble
Nglish: Translation of crumble for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of crumble for Arabic Speakers
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