fumble 1 of 2

noun

Definition of fumblenext
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy played the entire piano piece without a single fumble

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fumble

2 of 2

verb

ˈfəm-bəl How to pronounce fumble (audio)
1
as in to blow
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way her assistant fumbled the party plans by getting the time wrong on the invitations

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grope
to search for something blindly or uncertainly the librarian fumbled for the light switch as she entered the dark room

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3
as in to stumble
to make a mistake just when it looked like he was going to get away with the ruse, he fumbled

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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 fumble
Noun
Greenlaw, who rejoined the Niners last offseason, forced a fumble and collected a dozen tackles in San Francisco's 24-14 win over the Broncos on Sunday. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 Three plays into that against-all-odds drive, the Seahawks stripped the ball from Justin Herbert, recovered the fumble and ran out the clock. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
Leading 24-23, Jacksonville State was driving with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter when Lucas Farrington fumbled it. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 However, the Broncos have fumbled the ball over three times, and there’s a small chance that both starting running backs, Sire Gaines and Dylan Riley, could miss Saturday’s game with injuries. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble
  1. mistake
  2. blow
  3. grope
  4. stumble
  5. blunder
  6. boot
  7. look
  8. trip
Noun
  • But elevating the whims of progressive activists and government bureaucrats above the wisdom of the marketplace has proven a costly mistake and undermined consumer choice.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Guys will make a mistake that will lead to busted assignments, penalties, big plays for the opponents, if not a touchdown.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of mistake
Verb
  • This inspires Other Mommy to gruesomely kill Frank in front of Bela, including blowing his head up in an outrageous explosion of blood.
    — William Earl, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • In Chicago, the city is on track to blow past the $252 million spent last year to resolve police lawsuits, mostly involving plaintiffs who went to prison based on faulty evidence, according to local news reports.
    — Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • Multiple fraternity members then entered the room, where one of the newcomers kissed her without her consent, and one of the first three men commanded her to take more ketamine and groped her, according to the complaint.
    — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
  • There’s always a fear of groping around in the dark; of not even knowing who to talk to.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of grope
Verb
  • Almost sounds silly now, with the way the team has stumbled and bumbled its way through the first four games.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Of the seven clubs that had 14 or more players from their organizations appear in the WBC, several stumbled early and only the Phillies and Brewers made the postseason.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of stumble
Noun
  • The slip didn’t go unnoticed by Mikey Day’s Lorax, who later worked the blunder into the sketch.
    — Anna Tingley, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • In the seventh inning of a 1-all tie, Teoscar Hernández redeemed himself for another fielding blunder with a single that finally drove dizzying Braves starter Tyler Mahle from the game.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of blunder
Verb
  • Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure said the city booted about 300 more vehicles from January through September this year than during the same period last year.
    — Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The first points at the new Ryan Field went to — fittingly enough — the Wildcats when Jackson Kleather booted a 50-yarder between the uprights to cap off Northwestern's maiden drive in their new home.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of boot
Verb
  • Given it was greenlit by a streamer, this one looks set to work on digital platforms as well as linear TV.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • What was once a contemporary exploration of horror has become a sentimental aesthetic, with this particular version of 2011 looking ironically idealistic because younger viewers never had to live inside it.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of look
Verb
  • But up here on the terraces of the Anantara Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi, the shrieks of day-tripping cruise passengers, zipping back and forth in Tango-orange tenders, are pleasantly faint.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Beckett Sennecke drew a tripping penalty on Gustav Forsling midway through overtime, but Florida nearly killed the penalty before Carlsson found Granlund in front for his first goal.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of trip

Browse Nearby Words

fulsome
fumble
fumbled
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Cite this Entry

“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumble. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fumble

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