1
as in fumbling
to make a mistake
even though the prosecution had blundered several times in presenting its case, it ultimately prevailed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in stumbling
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
blundered his way through an acceptance speech
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Recent Examples of blundering
When the toys use messaging apps to control their owners in ways that go terrifyingly unnoticed, humankind itself seems to be blundering about with its brain unplugged.
—
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
The consequences ranged from hobbling Reconstruction to hastening the end of the Ottoman Empire to poisonous deflation, and the blundering response by governments helped shape the modern world.
—Air Mail, 6 June 2026
The broadest of comedies, the film’s often puerile humor is driven by an endless stream of male bungling, blundering and whining, only to be kicked up a notch by pratfalls of nearly every variety, from getting bucked off a galloping horse to tripping into a pile of trash.
—Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 27 May 2026
Right now, the source of the disruption in the airline industry is the President’s blundering rather than a financial meltdown that originated on Wall Street.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
Verizon never would have gotten the chance to buy Yahoo’s online operations if not for the company’s perpetual blundering under seven different CEOs in 16 years.
—Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Verizon never would have gotten the chance to buy Yahoo's online operations if not for the company's perpetual blundering under seven different CEOs in 16 years.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Indeed, the blundering machines have been pretty controversial since the moment they were deployed, with Coco launching its service in 2024, and Serve last September.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
Yabusele started Monday and immediately racked up two blundering fouls in four minutes.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
The consequences ranged from hobbling Reconstruction to hastening the end of the Ottoman Empire to poisonous deflation, and the blundering response by governments helped shape the modern world.
—Air Mail, 6 June 2026
The broadest of comedies, the film’s often puerile humor is driven by an endless stream of male bungling, blundering and whining, only to be kicked up a notch by pratfalls of nearly every variety, from getting bucked off a galloping horse to tripping into a pile of trash.
—Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 27 May 2026
Right now, the source of the disruption in the airline industry is the President’s blundering rather than a financial meltdown that originated on Wall Street.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
Verizon never would have gotten the chance to buy Yahoo’s online operations if not for the company’s perpetual blundering under seven different CEOs in 16 years.
—Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Verizon never would have gotten the chance to buy Yahoo's online operations if not for the company's perpetual blundering under seven different CEOs in 16 years.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Indeed, the blundering machines have been pretty controversial since the moment they were deployed, with Coco launching its service in 2024, and Serve last September.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
Yabusele started Monday and immediately racked up two blundering fouls in four minutes.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blundering
Verb
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My first few hours with the EM11 NL were marked by overshooting links, fumbling through simple selections, and occasionally wondering why anyone would voluntarily use a vertical mouse.—
Sascha Brodsky,
PC Magazine,
21 June 2026
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Bennett is concerned, for instance, that Hong could win her primary and then be defeated in November by Republican Tom Tiffany, fumbling the governorship of a swing state into the hands of a far-right Freedom Caucus member who dabbled in 2020 election conspiracy theories.—
Will Lennon,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Gane finished off Pereira in the second round to win the title on Sunday after sending him stumbling with a right jab followed by a hammer fist.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
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But stumbling into a town with a visual landscape that still shows Guedes' thumbprint was a delight.—
Matt Ozug,
NPR,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Australia's Alessandro Circati was given a yellow card after tripping USA's Malik Tillman on the field.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
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The ban prohibits any item that could obstruct lifeguard views, overcrowd the beach, create tripping hazards, or hinder emergency responders.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The two candidates also are offering differing solutions for the country’s struggling health system, ballooning public debt and entrenched corruption.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
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The two candidates also are offering differing solutions for the country's struggling health system, ballooning public debt and entrenched corruption.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blundering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blundering. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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