Word
crumbling
Phoneticscrum·bling
US/ˈkɹəmbəɫɪŋ/
UK/kɹˈʌmblɪŋ/
Definition
adj. breaking into small pieces because something is very old or in bad condition. You use this to describe buildings, walls, or even systems that are falling apart.
adj. breaking into small fragments or decaying; in a state of disintegration. Often used figuratively to describe institutions or relationships that are failing.
Examples
“The old house has crumbling walls and a leaking roof.”
“The city is struggling to repair its crumbling infrastructure after decades of neglect and underfunding.”
“The novel depicts a family living in a crumbling mansion, serving as a metaphor for their fading social status and internal emotional decay.”
Examples
simple
“The old house has crumbling walls and a leaking roof.”
contextual
“The city is struggling to repair its crumbling infrastructure after decades of neglect and underfunding.”
complex
“The novel depicts a family living in a crumbling mansion, serving as a metaphor for their fading social status and internal emotional decay.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun; can also follow a linking verb like 'remain' or 'look'.
Real-World Examples
“It had black mould spots, crumbling paintwork from apparent damp and peeling wallpaper.” “Jennings argues there are crumbling shopping centres all over the country, hit by online shopping, that could do the job.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/crumbling