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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of fumble
Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026
The singer took to social media on Tuesday to address the Ticketmaster fumble.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Cornell fumbled with Mercader’s clothing, trying to find them.
—Josh Ireland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Noun
Sports fans may forgive interceptions and fumbles.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026
The singer took to social media on Tuesday to address the Ticketmaster fumble.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
When the first part of season four ends with Benedict fumbling through a disastrous proposal that Sophie become his mistress, Ha does not crumple or explode in fury.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Cornell fumbled with Mercader’s clothing, trying to find them.
—Josh Ireland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble
Noun
-
The back line — still reeling from the departure of center back Adilson Malanda this offseason — shored up its mistakes and stood tall.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The third mistake involves process.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Wind shear, which occurs when winds blow at different speeds and/or directions with height, acts as an impediment to fledgling tropical storms and hurricanes.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
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There's also a short clip of Cyrus onstage as Hannah with a band, blowing a kiss to a crowd as confetti falls around her.—
Mary Pat Thompson,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jennifer Jackson, 39, was charged with felony counts of groping a 15-year-old girl and vandalism.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
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McMillan, 26, of Long Island, then stole about $200 from the woman’s purse and groped her while Colon, 24, of Queens, kept watch.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Spotting this superconducting dome is often a sign that researchers have stumbled onto the right ingredients for high-temperature superconductivity.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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The man then tripped, stumbling to the ground.—
Andrew Adeolu,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Noem’s dissmissal comes after she was berated by lawmakers on Capitol Hill over a series of disastrous blunders by her department, including the killings of two American citizens by border patrol agents in Minneapolis and apparent attempts by DHS to stifle investigations into the shootings.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
6 Mar. 2026
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The infielder was mocked on social media after a head-scratching baserunning blunder against his former team, the Miami Marlins, in August.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Passengers who get banned from travel or booted off the plane for this violation may be eligible for a refund upon request, United adds.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
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Eldridge expressed disdain for booting a routine grounder in the seventh, but rookie manager Tony Vitello came away impressed with the top prospect’s effort on defense.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Beijing may need to look elsewhere for supply if Iran’s exports are disrupted, another factor that could increase energy prices.—
Alex Veiga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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The blast caused minor damage and police are looking for one or more suspects, with no casualties reported.—
Nasteho Said,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Authorities say Hughes tripped and fell into the street just as one of the teens was driving away.—
Jamal Goss,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
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As Wallace began driving away, Hughes tripped and fell into the road, and Wallace allegedly ran over him, according to police.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumble. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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