1
as in fumbled
to make a mistake
unnerved by her earlier missteps, the skater fluffed on the final jump as well
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in blew
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
I completely fluffed the introduction by calling the boss's wife by the wrong name
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fluffed
Sofa cushions, pillows, and throws would be fluffed and tidied and nearly all surfaces would receive a quick dusting.
—
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
Newcastle talked the talk and then fluffed the walk, hobbling and tripping.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
The tiniest requests were dispensed with the utmost care; rooms were primped and fluffed three times a day; special requests for excursions efficiently booked; and dietary preferences noted and recalled with precision.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026
Then tumble dry on no-heat with tennis balls to keep them fluffed.
—Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 19 Feb. 2026
Hours later, the calf, fed and fluffed, took a spot on the couch with the Sorrell family’s two children.
—Dylan Lovan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Hours later, the calf, fed and fluffed, took a spot on the couch with the Sorrell family's two children.
—CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
For Jonathan Anderson’s vision of beauty at his first Dior women’s show in October, Guido Palau fluffed up models’ natural texture, not dissimilar from the windswept waves and pre-Raphaelite curls the hairstylist created for Veronica Leoni’s September Calvin Klein debut.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
Newcastle talked the talk and then fluffed the walk, hobbling and tripping.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
The tiniest requests were dispensed with the utmost care; rooms were primped and fluffed three times a day; special requests for excursions efficiently booked; and dietary preferences noted and recalled with precision.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026
Then tumble dry on no-heat with tennis balls to keep them fluffed.
—Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 19 Feb. 2026
Hours later, the calf, fed and fluffed, took a spot on the couch with the Sorrell family’s two children.
—Dylan Lovan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Hours later, the calf, fed and fluffed, took a spot on the couch with the Sorrell family's two children.
—CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
For Jonathan Anderson’s vision of beauty at his first Dior women’s show in October, Guido Palau fluffed up models’ natural texture, not dissimilar from the windswept waves and pre-Raphaelite curls the hairstylist created for Veronica Leoni’s September Calvin Klein debut.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluffed
Verb
-
Trailing to Jule Brand's 19th-minute goal for record eight-time champion Lyon, Arsenal was gifted an equalizer in the 59th when Mariona Caldentey's low free kick into the area was fumbled backward by goalkeeper Christiane Endler and onto the post.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Critics say the Epstein files show how Republican and Democratic administrations alike fumbled the Epstein investigation over two decades, leaving potential coconspirators uncharged.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Brunson had 27 points by halftime, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer that blew the score to 74-51 and gave him the second-most first-half points in Knicks playoff history.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
-
The Great Gatsby was the first book that kind of blew things open for me in terms of symbolism and deeper meaning and language.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
With Colorado on the power play, the Avs icon lost the puck near the Minnesota blue line and stumbled while retreating.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
-
But Musk stumbled at least seven times in ways that possibly put his chances at winning in jeopardy.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Critics also complain that Dodge, known for its muscle cars, muffed its transition to hybrid power systems.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
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But early in the second half, with the Seahawks leading 17-13, Smith muffed another kick and the Seahawks recovered the ball.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The boy tried to run away but tripped and the beaver bit him on the upper thigh and continued to attack him.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
-
But a federal judge sided with Biden-era Justice Department officials that such a combination tripped antitrust rules.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
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,
NBC news,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fluffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluffed. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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