as in brittle
having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure
a crumbly shortbread cookie
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Recent Examples of crumbly
Here are details on crumbly cotija cheeses that instantly elevate savory dishes, and the tough, chewy crumbles to avoid.
—
Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 4 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
Brandon’s dish looks incredibly dramatic with the nearly black potatoes and the crumbly meringue.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumbly
Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 4 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
Brandon’s dish looks incredibly dramatic with the nearly black potatoes and the crumbly meringue.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumbly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumbly
Adjective
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In those settings, intelligence without context becomes brittle.—
Usman Shuja,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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Infused with biotin, rosemary, and peppermint oil, this ultra-popular Mielle Organics shampoo strengthens thin, brittle strands.—
Isabel Bekele,
InStyle,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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Print assets like brochures, billboards, business cards and magazine advertisements demand crisp, clear imagery to maintain a professional appearance.—
Anthony Savino,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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The resulting confection is equal parts crisp, tender and lush.—
Jen Rose Smith,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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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 31 May. 2026.
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