desmoronar

Senses

1. 1.

   to collapse, to crumble

   to fall down or break apart into pieces (physical structures)

2. 2.

   to fall apart, to break down

   to fail or deteriorate completely (plans, relationships, systems)

3. 3.

   to break down (emotionally)

   to lose emotional control or composure

Examples

• "A parede desmoronou depois da chuva forte."

  The wall collapsed after the heavy rain.

• "Todos os meus planos desmoronaram quando perdi o emprego."

  All my plans fell apart when I lost my job.

• "Ela desmoronou em lágrimas ao receber a notícia."

  She broke down in tears upon receiving the news.

Usage

Common in both literal (physical collapse) and figurative (emotional/situational breakdown) contexts. Often used with prepositions: desmoronar em (lágrimas/pedaços) or desmoronar sobre (alguém). The pronominal form 'desmoronar-se' is also frequent, especially for emotional breakdowns.