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
February 9, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Hall had only two sacks in the regular season, then delivered two in the Super Bowl, one of which caused a fumble that Murphy recovered, and the offense turned it into a touchdown.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Super Bowl 60 saw the Seattle Seahawks claim victory over the New England Patriots, but there were plenty of other winners — and losers — off the field during the game, with some brands scoring with their commercials and others fumbling their attempts for a loss.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Noun
Maye lost the football for a second fumble in the game.
—February 9, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Hall had only two sacks in the regular season, then delivered two in the Super Bowl, one of which caused a fumble that Murphy recovered, and the offense turned it into a touchdown.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
In turn, the Heat fumbled it away.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Super Bowl 60 saw the Seattle Seahawks claim victory over the New England Patriots, but there were plenty of other winners — and losers — off the field during the game, with some brands scoring with their commercials and others fumbling their attempts for a loss.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble
Noun
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In the dugout, after hitting an RBI single off Zac Gallen, Kyle made the mistake of catching a video of the TV broadcast.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
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According to our cleaning pros, these are the most common mistakes people make with comforters, and simple fixes that keep them smelling clean all season.—
Farima Ferguson,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Negotiators from the seven states along the Colorado River blew past yet another federal deadline over the weekend without reaching a compromise on how to share its water — even as this winter’s dismal snowpack could spell immediate disaster for the river system.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
17 Feb. 2026
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Snow flurries are blowing at an angle, the sky is a leaden grey, and visibility is poor.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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All the incidents occurred near the Point Richmond tunnel, and all involved him either groping the victims or attempting to pull off their clothes, police said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Vile — lots of climbing, groping, grabbing, grunting and dirt.—
Linda Perillo,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The scientists who stumbled on the rare recording are eager to use it for science.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
20 Feb. 2026
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Workers stumble upon historic burial site and 'incredibly rare' find during sewer project.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The two even argued about the 2008 parking meter deal, one of the city’s biggest financial blunders.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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But a series of headwinds, including a recent blunder over see-through leggings, is threatening the company's path forward.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The question is whether Sam Merrill or Jaylon Tyson will get booted.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Strom added that the offering outreach to homeless people with the threat of booting them and throwing their belongings out is counterproductive.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Next, Leaphorn pops by the clinic looking for a gunshot victim.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
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The reveal marks the first official look at what the company claims will be the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid ute, developed with Australia as a key target market.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Square-jawed detectives were tripping over corpses at midtown construction sites, blind vigilantes were redecorating Hell’s Kitchen with body parts and even poor Lester the doorman ended up dead in an Upper West Side courtyard fountain.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
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Finland had a power play opportunity after a tripping call against Slovakia's captain, Tomas Tatar.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumble. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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