This is the 6925th most frequent Dutch word.
afbrokkelen
To crumble or disintegrate.
The word 'afbrokkelen' is used literally here to describe the physical disintegration of the wall.
De oude muur begint af te brokkelen vanwege het slechte weer.
The old wall is starting to crumble due to the bad weather.
In this sentence, 'afbrokkelen' is used metaphorically to describe a gradual loss of confidence.
Zijn vertrouwen in het project begon langzaam af te brokkelen na de recente tegenslagen.
His trust in the project began to crumble slowly after the recent setbacks.
Here, 'afbrokkelen' is again used metaphorically, applied to the diminishing influence of an institution.