Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

fumble

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of fumble

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy

  • played the entire piano piece without a single fumble
Synonyms of fumble

blunder, bobble, boo-boo, boob [British], brick, clanger [British], clinker, error, fault, flub, fluff, gaff, gaffe, goof, inaccuracy, lapse, miscue, misstep, mistake, oversight, screwup, slip, slipup, stumble, trip
Words Related to fumble

bloomer, blooper, boner, howler, pratfall

foul-up, snafu

misapprehension, miscalculation, miscomprehension, misconception, misconstruction, miscue, misdescription, misimpression, misinterpretation, misjudgment, misreading, misstatement, misunderstanding
Near Antonyms of fumble

accuracy, correctness, exactitude, exactness, preciseness, precision, strictness

inerrancy, infallibility, perfection

fumble

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of fumble

1 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 of fumble

blow, bobble, boggle, bollix (up), boot, botch, bugger (up), bumble, bungle, butcher, dub, flub, fluff, foozle, foul up, goof (up), louse up, mangle, mess (up), muck up, muff, murder, screw up
Words Related to fumble

blunder, gum (up), muddle, piffle

blemish, blight, damage, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, mutilate, ruin, spoil, vitiate

destroy, wreck

mishandle, mismanage
Near Antonyms of fumble

ameliorate, better, enhance, help, improve, meliorate, rectify, refine, reform, remedy

doctor, fix, patch, recondition, renovate, repair, revamp

2 to search for something blindly or uncertainly

  • the librarian fumbled for the light switch as she entered the dark room
Synonyms of fumble

feel, fish, grope, scrabble
Words Related to fumble

grabble

cast about, hunt, look, reach, seek (out)

capture, clutch, corral, get, grab, nab, nail, seize, snatch

comb, dig (through), dredge, rake, ransack, rifle, rummage, scour

3 to make a mistake

  • just when it looked like he was going to get away with the ruse, he fumbled
Synonyms of fumble

blunder, boob [British], err, flub, fluff, foul up, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), screw up, slip up, stumble, trip
Words Related to fumble

nod

bobble, botch, bungle, butcher, foozle, mangle, mishandle, muff, murder

miscalculate, misconceive, miscount, miscue, misdeem, misgauge, misjudge, mistake

misconstrue, misinterpret, misunderstand
Phrases Synonymous with fumble

drop the ball, lay an egg

Learn More about fumble

  1. See words that rhyme with fumble Dictionary: Definition of fumble Spanish Central: Translation of fumble Nglish: Translation of fumble for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fumble

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up fumble? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

lunette

the figure or shape of a crescent moon

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. synergy Mueller files Cohen details.

  2. slumgullion From the broadcast of 'It Happened on Fifth Avenue'

  3. endgame Marvel's Avengers: Endgame

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games