What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
crumbling
Example
The old castle was crumbling due to years of neglect. [crumbling: verb]
Example
The walls of the ancient temple were slowly crumbling away. [crumbling: present participle]
decaying
Example
The fruit was decaying and emitting a foul odor. [decaying: verb]
Example
The abandoned house was in a state of advanced decay. [decay: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Decaying is more commonly used than crumbling in everyday language. Decaying is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while crumbling is less common and refers specifically to the disintegration of solid materials.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between crumbling and decaying?
Both crumbling and decaying are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
