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
Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
Gibbs’ performance came at the perfect time for the Lions, with quarterback Jared Goff having an uncharacteristically sloppy game, throwing one interception and losing a fumble.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Onana then fumbled a low cross from the right by Yasin Ayari, with the ball falling to the feet of Georginio Rutter.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Noun
Two Rivers lost a fumble in the red zone later in the quarter.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
Gibbs’ performance came at the perfect time for the Lions, with quarterback Jared Goff having an uncharacteristically sloppy game, throwing one interception and losing a fumble.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
Auburn was leading late in the second quarter when Tigers quarterback Jackson Arnold fumbled the ball during a short yardage play near the goal line.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Onana then fumbled a low cross from the right by Yasin Ayari, with the ball falling to the feet of Georginio Rutter.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble
Noun
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Let the rookie learn on the fly, make mistakes, and grow.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
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Get your fruit trees off to a strong start by avoiding these common planting mistakes.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Giants, meanwhile, are coming off a painful defeat to the Denver Broncos, after blowing a 19-0 lead and losing 33-32 on a last-second Denver field goal after missing two PATs of their own, including one with 37 seconds left.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
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After the final whistle blew at Memorial Stadium, Kiffin made some headlines for his postgame behavior toward an Oklahoma player.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The lewd act conviction stemmed from a teen girl’s testimony that Moseby groped her during a cheer practice.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
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Krebs alleges in the lawsuit that the officer who forcibly kissed her then filed a harassment complaint against her, resulting in a second investigation, and that a third investigation had been opened, also without her approval, into an incident in which she had been groped, years earlier.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Most people don’t accidentally stumble into building a multimillion-dollar empire.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
22 Oct. 2025
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The trio stumbles upon a crucial piece of evidence - and promptly compromises it.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His biggest accident was no blunder in the mountains, but becoming a billionaire.—
Maya Silver,
Outside,
20 Oct. 2025
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Some began adding more blunders to the list when the Blue Jays dropped two games at the Rogers Centre to begin the ALCS — when Schneider offered up more pitching changes for fans to debate.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The space race is heating up NASA is suggesting SpaceX could be booted from its mission to land astronauts on the moon later this decade.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
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Party game Cards Against Humanity is declaring a small legal win against SpaceX after suing to boot the company from a plot of land for trespassing.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This option by Loloi, made in collaboration with fellow HGTV star Joanna Gaines, has a gorgeous neutral pattern that will look at home during any season.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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And a fifth of job seekers on the hunt have been looking for a year.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Nicholas trips over a bramble, falls to his hands and knees in the soaking grass.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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Marchand had a shot on goal five seconds into the game, drew a tripping penalty 33 seconds into the game and tallied the primary assist on Mackie Samoskevich’s goal on the ensuing power play.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumble. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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