fumble

¹fum·ble

verb \ˈfəm-bəl\

fum·bledfum·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of FUMBLE

intransitive verb

1

a : to grope for or handle something clumsily or aimlessly

b : to make awkward attempts to do or find something <fumbled in his pocket for a coin>

c : to search by trial and error

d : blunder

2

: to feel one's way or move awkwardly

3

a : to drop or juggle or fail to play cleanly a grounder

b : to lose hold of a football while handling or running with it

transitive verb

1

: to bring about by clumsy manipulation

2

a : to feel or handle clumsily

b : to deal with in a blundering way : bungle

3

: to make (one's way) in a clumsy manner

4

a : misplay <fumble a grounder>

b : to lose hold of (a football) while handling or running

— fum·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

— fum·bling·ly \-b(ə-)liŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of FUMBLE

1. She fumbled in her pocket for her keys.
2. They fumbled a good opportunity to take control of the market.
3. He was hit hard and fumbled on the 20-yard line.
4. He fumbled the ball on the 20-yard line.

Origin of FUMBLE

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish fumla to fumble

First Known Use: 1534

Related to FUMBLE

Synonyms

blow, bobble, boggle, bollix (up), boot, bugger (up), bumble, bungle, butcher, dub, flub, fluff, foozle, foul up, botch, goof (up), louse up, mangle, mess (up), muck up, muff, murder, screw up

Related Words

blunder, gum (up), muddle, piffle; blemish, blight, damage, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, mutilate, ruin, spoil, vitiate; destroy, wreck; mishandle, mismanage

Near Antonyms

ameliorate, better, enhance, help, improve, meliorate, rectify, refine, reform, remedy; doctor, fix, patch, recondition, renovate, repair, revamp

Rhymes with FUMBLE

bumble, crumble, grumble, humble, jumble, mumble, rumble, scumble, stumble, tumble, umbel

²fumble

noun

Definition of FUMBLE

1

: an act or instance of fumbling

2

: a fumbled ball

Examples of FUMBLE

1. <played the entire piano piece without a single fumble>

First Known Use of FUMBLE

1634

Related to FUMBLE

Synonyms

blunder, bobble, boob [British], boo-boo, brick, clanger [British], clinker, fault, flub, fluff, error, gaff, gaffe, goof, inaccuracy, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, oversight, screwup, slip, slipup, stumble, trip

Related Words

bloomer, blooper, boner, howler, pratfall; foul-up, snafu; misapprehension, miscalculation, miscomprehension, misconception, misconstruction, miscue, misdescription, misimpression, misinterpretation, misjudgment, misreading, misstatement, misunderstanding

Near Antonyms

accuracy, correctness, exactitude, exactness, preciseness, precision, strictness; inerrancy, infallibility, perfection

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

crease, lateral, lax, overthrow, playbook, post, screen, scrum, secondary, ultimate