crumble from within

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crumble from within" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is deteriorating or failing internally, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "The organization began to crumble from within due to internal conflicts." Alternative expressions include "fall apart internally" and "disintegrate from the inside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Was the British Empire about to crumble from within?

Independent

FIFA, so accomplished at ethical opacity, so resistant to transparency, might have started to crumble from within.

The New York Times

Without a strong economy, America will founder and crumble from within, leaving the US unable to protect itself from challenges from without – to say nothing of leading the world in creating a more just, prosperous planet.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Traditional hierarchies are crumbling from within.

The New York Times - Arts

Since then the squad seems to have crumbled from within.

The Guardian - Sport

"The FARC are crumbling from within," said Rodrigo Rivera, Colombia's defense minister, in announcing the operation.

The New York Times

This odd order amounted to another signal that the regime was crumbling from within as well as from without.

The New York Times - Magazine

He is wanted for crimes against humanity, but his destruction of other human beings is in concert with his own crumbling from within.

The New Yorker

After years of seeming untouchable, it was thought Fifa was crumbling from within and would at last be forced into reform.

The Guardian - Sport

The revolutionary council hopes that Koussa's defection is evidence of the regime crumbling from within given that it is clear the rebels are a long way from defeating Gaddafi by force.

The Guardian

Some historians believe the loss of the Alexandrian library, along with the dissolution of its huge community of scribes and scholars, created the conditions for the Dark Ages that descended across Europe as the Roman Empire slowly crumbled from within.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crumble from within" to describe the gradual and often unseen deterioration of an organization, system, or even a person, due to internal problems rather than external forces.

Common error

Avoid using "crumble from within" when the primary cause of decline is external. The phrase specifically implies that the problems originate internally, not from outside pressures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crumble from within" functions primarily as a metaphorical expression, indicating a process of internal decay or disintegration affecting an entity. Ludwig AI identifies its use in describing the gradual failure of systems, organizations, or regimes due to internal weaknesses rather than external pressures.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "crumble from within" is a useful expression for describing the gradual disintegration of something due to internal issues, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not extremely frequent, it is grammatically correct and appears predominantly in news and media sources. It's important to use this phrase when the cause of the decline is indeed internal, differentiating it from external pressures. Related phrases include "disintegrate internally" or "fall apart from the inside". Remember, it emphasizes that the problems originate inside the system, organization, or entity itself.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disintegrate internally

Focuses on the breaking apart aspect, implying a loss of cohesion.

fall apart from the inside

Emphasizes the process of failing or collapsing due to internal issues.

decay from within

Highlights the gradual deterioration or rotting process originating internally.

collapse internally

Stresses the sudden failure or breakdown of a structure or system.

erode from the inside

Suggests a gradual wearing away or weakening of something internally.

self-destruct

Implies an inherent flaw or process that leads to its own destruction.

implode

Conveys a sudden and forceful collapse inward.

lose internal cohesion

Highlights the loss of unity or connection among internal elements.

suffer internal breakdown

Focuses on the process of ceasing to function properly due to internal issues.

succumb to internal pressures

Emphasizes the role of internal stresses or conflicts in causing failure.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "crumbles from within"?

It means that something is failing or deteriorating because of problems or weaknesses that exist inside it, rather than because of external forces.

What are some synonyms for "crumble from within"?

Alternatives include "disintegrate internally", "fall apart from the inside", or "decay from within".

How can I use "crumble from within" in a sentence?

You might say, "The regime began to "crumble from within" due to widespread corruption" or "The company's culture started to "crumble from within" after a series of poor management decisions".

Is it better to say "crumble from within" or "collapse from within"?

"Crumble from within" suggests a gradual process of decay, while "collapse internally" implies a more sudden and dramatic failure. The better choice depends on the specific context.