fumble 1 of 2

noun

Definition of fumblenext
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy played the entire piano piece without a single fumble

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fumble

2 of 2

verb

ˈfəm-bəl How to pronounce fumble (audio)
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

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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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fumble
Noun
One thing that makes Rodriguez such a great fit in what the Dolphins want to do defensively is his propensity to punch the ball out for forced fumbles. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026 The former Kentucky star owns a 5-16 record as a starter while throwing for 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions to go along with a whopping 17 fumbles. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
Omar Brown hauled in an interception but fumbled, ball was recovered by Anthony Hankerson. — Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026 Most of the world was fumbling and scared, and Fauci seemed to have some idea of what to do. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble
  1. mistake
  2. blow
  3. grope
  4. stumble
  5. blunder
  6. boot
  7. look
  8. trip
Noun
  • The debtor made a mistake to incur the liability, the liability was not covered by adequate insurance, and no settlement was achieved in litigation.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Despite acknowledging mistakes were made, FIFA is still facing a barrage of obstacles that are preventing it and Infantino from moving on from the saga.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of mistake
Verb
  • No one knows when a sedentary 75-year-old economist will kick the bucket or a derecho wind will blow the roof off a Roseville retirement condo, but there are actuarial records giving probabilities for either happening.
    — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Aug. 2026
  • This debris can get sucked into your ductwork or blown back into the house.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • Quaylin Wesley, 27, of Oakland and Vallejo, has been charged with 10 felonies for allegedly going into the girl’s room repeatedly on the night of June 13 and groping her, forcing her to touch him, and attempting to sodomize her, prosecutors say.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Love curated these parties to create a space where patrons don’t have to worry about their drink getting spiked, getting groped in the crowd, or their light being dimmed in any way, Love said.
    — Zuri Primos July 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
Definition of grope
Verb
  • According to The New York Times, a detective within the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department who had been assigned to dig into the Shakur cold case stumbled upon Davis’ memoir and used it as evidence to build his case against him.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Drunken dragonrider Ulf the White's rage proves pivotal Debaucherous dragonrider Ulf White (Tom Bennett) stumbles into playing a major role in the final battle with his dragon Silverwing.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of stumble
Noun
  • But the motivations for the murders were an unplanned series of blunders designed to correct mistakes that were made.
    — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey made an uncharacteristic defensive blunder Wednesday night.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of blunder
Verb
  • Little League on Monday ruled that Tulsa National Little League's 12U team had an ineligible player on the roster and booted it from the Southwest Region Tournament, the final stop before the Little League World Series.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • O’Hare booted members of the public from the room for the meeting for disrupting decorum, instead inviting speakers to address the commissioners one-by-one.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of boot
Verb
  • The smallest rooms, the Cosy Doubles, look onto the inner courtyard; the best turn towards Avenida dos Aliados.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • That sentence does not even look right on paper, let alone warrant a confusing 60-minute production that builds to a drag queen being shot.
    — Hannah Brueske, Twin Cities, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of look
Verb
  • Pastor Richard Langness said the volunteer tripped, causing the torch to roll under a bush.
    — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Then Brown tripped, which nearly led to an interception, before Maye closed out the initial 11-on-11s on a high note.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of trip

Browse Nearby Words

fulsome
fumble
fumbled
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Cite this Entry

“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumble. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fumble

Nglish: Translation of fumble for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fumble

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