Rick Perlstein

Back when I was 16, when I should have been doing normal high school things, I availed myself of my brand new driver's license to spend as much time as possible in Milwaukee's Renaissance Book Shop, a tumbledown five-story warehouse that the city was finally able to close down in 2011 for safety reasons. It was my teenage paradise.

American Historian

Use 'tumbledown' to vividly describe something neglected and falling to pieces, often creating a strong visual image.

Descriptive Imagery

'Tumbledown' implies a negative view of the state of disrepair, hinting at deterioration and neglect.

Negative Connotation

Consider using 'tumbledown' when talking about old buildings or objects that have historical significance but are now dilapidated.