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
Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
In 2023, McCloud forced three fumbles and had one interception for the Giants.
—Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2025
These are both great, morally complex characters with compelling stories and the trailer certainly looks terrific:
However much Disney has fumbled the Star Wars IP over the last decade, the animated stuff has mostly been quite good.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Noun
Last season, Gordon played in 15 games with 13 starts and had five passes defensed, four tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries.
—Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
In 2023, McCloud forced three fumbles and had one interception for the Giants.
—Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
The characters in Megan Howell’s short stories, which glide into scenes of magical realism, are lonely people facing the harsh realities of an often violent world and fumbling toward something more hopeful.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2025
These are both great, morally complex characters with compelling stories and the trailer certainly looks terrific:
However much Disney has fumbled the Star Wars IP over the last decade, the animated stuff has mostly been quite good.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble
Noun
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Justice Department lawyers contend FBI agents acted in good faith despite the mistake and shouldn't be second-guessed by the courts.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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Maybe everything that follows is a cascade of mistakes stemming from this decision.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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However, the impending free agent had an 11.25 ERA, two losses and one blown save over 10 games entering Monday.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2025
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Vindman and his twin brother, Alex, both blew the whistle on Trump’s attempt to withhold military aid to Ukraine while pressuring the country’s leader to investigate the family of President Joe Biden.—
Andy Kroll,
ProPublica,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Jurors found that Oscar Medrano, 39, groped three women and a 15-year-old girl within a 48-hour period last December.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
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The boy, whom The Denver Post is not identifying, said Hedges groped and assaulted him after the boy laid down to sleep at one of two cabins the team was staying in during the trip to Taos in northern New Mexico.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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How did the world’s two largest economies stumble toward a trade war that neither truly seeks and which the rest of the world can’t afford?—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Apr. 2025
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In 1857, Sam stumbled into the job that would shape his identity.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But the team with the biggest quarterback blunder from 2018 was the Arizona Cardinals, who made the decision to trade up to the No. 10 pick to take Josh Rosen.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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This week’s White House Report Card could have been a bad one, considering court rulings against President Donald Trump, staffing blunders, and a lack of movement on his tariff war that is starting to scare his supporters.—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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JoJo Siwa Lashes Out at Paparazzi Over 'Bizarre' Migrant Crisis Question By Sophie Clark Live News Reporter Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 Mickey Rourke is reportedly looking to sue a U.K. TV station after being booted from Celebrity Big Brother only six days into the show.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Following three straight shutouts of the Rockies, Cease ran the team’s scoreless streak to 37 innings — three shy of the 1984 team record — before Manny Machado cracked the door open in the fourth inning by booting Justin Turner’s leadoff grounder.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Mikko has food aversion, often eating only certain colors and textures, so the family looks for grocery stores and lodging that have a kitchen or at least a microwave.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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While things weren’t completely blown off course with Friday’s 4-0 loss to Gotham FC, Angel City looked lost without Alyssa Thompson leading the way.—
Emily Olsen,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Declan Rice tripped him from behind to earn a yellow card.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
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For the listener, the journey is both thrilling and desultory, like hanging out sober while your friend trips on mushrooms.—
Carrie Brownstein,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumble. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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