as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
played the entire piano piece without a single fumble
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fumble
Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2025
Daniels, whose 500 yards of total offense (445 passing, 55 rushing) was the fourth highest single game total in KU history (second-best mark in Daniels’ career) lost a key fumble at the Cincinnati 1-yard-line with 12:08 left.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2025
Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 4 Oct. 2025
Iain also makes a good-looking tart with raspberries and white chocolate (gag) on the top but then somehow fumbles it while trying to put it on his display stand.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Noun
Timberview recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff, only to give it back on a strip sack by Seguin’s Caryell Brown.
—Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2025
Daniels, whose 500 yards of total offense (445 passing, 55 rushing) was the fourth highest single game total in KU history (second-best mark in Daniels’ career) lost a key fumble at the Cincinnati 1-yard-line with 12:08 left.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
Although the scoring position turnover trend continued, with CJ Stokes and Javen Nicholas fumbling in plus-territory on consecutive drives in the third quarter, the offense was much improved with Wilcke in the game.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 4 Oct. 2025
Iain also makes a good-looking tart with raspberries and white chocolate (gag) on the top but then somehow fumbles it while trying to put it on his display stand.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble
Noun
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Steelers, Saints, Cardinals Sam Darnold was nearly perfect (28-of-34 passing for 341 yards and four touchdowns), but his one mistake was a costly interception late that set up the Bucs’ winning field goal.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Mahomes methodically pushed the offense to Jacksonville’s goal line before making what was a game-changing mistake.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Grealish, no longer prone, headed, just like Moyes, to the South Stand and appeared to blow a kiss to adoring fans.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Apparently, Grier forgot his own words, because the lines that the Dolphins have built are collectively their worst this decade, something evident in a crushing 27-24 loss to Carolina, a game in which Miami blew a 17-0 lead.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Though the air is thick with anguish, three people start to grope their way through it toward each other.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
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In 2022, Errol allegedly groped their five-year-old son, according to family members.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But there have been some career stumbles recently, a superhero disappointment in particular, that must have complicated Johnson’s conception of his remarkable career.—
Richard Lawson,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
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Wallen then stumbles to his feet in the middle of the road, as rain pours down, with close-up images showing Wallen in tattered clothes and covered in scrapes and cuts.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The harsh taste of a blunder at Bethpage Black.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Again, special teams blunders set the defense up in poor position, but the defense ultimately coughed up big gains on the ground.—
Mike Kaye
September 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After it was booted from Apple's app store, Aaron blamed political pressure and vowed to fight it.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
3 Oct. 2025
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Kansas City has knocked the Bills out of the postseason four of the past five years — including two AFC Championship games — with the Bengals booting them out of the 2022 playoffs.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Howe will look to spend more time with his family — although that often involves more football, with the head coach taking the opportunity to watch his sons play — and encourages his backroom staff to do likewise.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Her current research looks at what programs or policies could help at work.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Georges Mikautadze tripped before getting back on his feet to score Villarreal’s 18th-minute opener from a Nicolas Pepe assist.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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In the Cowboys’ lone OT possession, inside the Packers’ 5-yard line, Dak was feeling some pressure, and running when he was barely tripped from behind by his old teammate to return to the original line of scrimmage.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumble. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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