BLUNDERED Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

blundered

verb

past tense of blunder

as in fumbled

to make a mistake even though the prosecution had blundered several times in presenting its case, it ultimately prevailed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in stumbled

to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually blundered his way through an acceptance speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of blundered Rubio is the president’s top adviser on both national security and diplomacy at a moment when the United States has blundered into an unpopular war that appears to be a strategic catastrophe. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026 Padres fielders blundered in three of his outings. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026 People see this president as having blundered into a war with no clear rationale. — NBC news, 5 Apr. 2026 Back in the team after injury, Neuer made strong saves in the first half but blundered for Freiburg's second, leaping out of his goal to palm a corner straight to Freiburg striker Lucas Höler for an easy second. — ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026 The growing political noise raises questions about whether Netflix, which has had one of the cleanest business strategies and investment stories in media, blundered into its first big M&A swing. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 24 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for blundered

Verb

The rookie tight end caught seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown in his first career start Sunday, even as the Lions beat the Jets, 31-24, after Geno Smith fumbled with seconds remaining.

— Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
The Ravens' defense came up big in the third quarter, forcing a Cowboys turnover when Ferguson fumbled a shovel pass from Prescott.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of fumbled

Verb

But like their European counterparts, American incumbents in the automobile and space industries have also stumbled.

— Andrew McAfee, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026
For Wilmot, the worst moment occurred when Sleepy stumbled to the edge of a huge chasm in the mine, turned and began to fall backward to his death.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of stumbled

Verb

Since then, price has completely round-tripped the move, giving back the entire post-earnings gap and settling back into the mid-$250s.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
Thomas Maulson alleged a deputy tripped him while handcuffed, causing injuries that required 13 stitches.

— Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of tripped

Verb

Bryce Young has struggled against man-to-man defenses, completing just over 40 percent of his passes this year against that scheme, and Cleveland has played man on about half of its defensive snaps this year.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 Sep. 2026
South Africa has struggled with violent crime for years, but recent shootings have shocked a country used to some of the highest homicide rates in the world.

— Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of struggled

Verb

The Florida Supreme Court reversed the conviction and sentence in 1991, finding the trial court erred by allowing a prosecutor on the case who had previously defended Reaves in a criminal matter.

— Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
But by laying out why the officials erred by putting one second back on the clock, the MAC crystallized a different outcome that transcended the final score.

— Austin Meek, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of erred

Browse Nearby Words

blunderbusses

blundered

blunderer

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Blundered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blundered. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of blundered

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

argot

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes