shambling

adjective

sham·​bling ˈsham-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce shambling (audio)
: characterized by slow awkward movement

Examples of shambling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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These movies—including the seven-hour-long Sátántangó, a centerpiece of which is a shambling dance in a barroom—often swap the meandering sentence for a single camera shot that lasts 10 minutes or more. Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025 Once the beyond-the-grave comeuppance arrives, this short is just standard shambling ghouls and raining blood. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025 The shambling Cliff and the spiky Didi make for an odd couple. Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shambling was in 1592

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Cite this Entry

“Shambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shambling. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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