as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
my future father-in-law shook his head over my fumbled attempt to compliment his daughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blew
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 looked
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 stumbled
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 fumbled
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2025
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Kennedy fumbled in his pocket and pulled out his phone, the source of the noise.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Herbert, who threw four interceptions in his last postseason appearance, fumbled five times after only coughing up the ball twice in his first 12 games this season.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Simpson fumbled in Indiana territory after a courageous first-down scramble late in the first half, and the Hoosiers methodically drove for Mendoza’s 1-yard TD pass with 17 seconds left to Cooper, the hero of Indiana’s dramatic victory over Penn State.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
The Owls fumbled again on their next drive at their 18, setting up a Texas State field goal to take a 27-7 lead.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2026
Instead of gaining a first down, Simpson fumbled on a hit by Hoosiers cornerback D’Angelo Ponds.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Alabama’s longest run came on a 9-yard scramble from Simpson, who then fumbled.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
He was sacked seven times and fumbled twice with both loose balls being recovered by the Bills’ defense.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
In the preseason opener, Mahomes was on the field for three snaps after the Chiefs recovered a fumbled kickoff to open the game.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
Ball security The Hurricanes have fumbled the ball four times in the past two games and lost two of them — one apiece by Malachi Toney (first round against Texas A&M) and Fletcher (quarterfinal against Ohio State).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Kennedy fumbled in his pocket and pulled out his phone, the source of the noise.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Herbert, who threw four interceptions in his last postseason appearance, fumbled five times after only coughing up the ball twice in his first 12 games this season.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Simpson fumbled in Indiana territory after a courageous first-down scramble late in the first half, and the Hoosiers methodically drove for Mendoza’s 1-yard TD pass with 17 seconds left to Cooper, the hero of Indiana’s dramatic victory over Penn State.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
The Owls fumbled again on their next drive at their 18, setting up a Texas State field goal to take a 27-7 lead.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2026
Instead of gaining a first down, Simpson fumbled on a hit by Hoosiers cornerback D’Angelo Ponds.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Alabama’s longest run came on a 9-yard scramble from Simpson, who then fumbled.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
He was sacked seven times and fumbled twice with both loose balls being recovered by the Bills’ defense.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbled
Adjective
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For starters, even at 4 mm by 4 mm, the Utah array would be too big and clumsy a hunk of hardware for Science to implant in the eye or Synchron to thread through a vein.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
What resulted is one of the most comic, counterproductive, and clumsy episodes in the long history of British efforts to deal with Ireland.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Buffalo Bills were left stunned in Miami on Sunday afternoon as the Dolphins blew them out 30-13 in a crucial AFC East rivalry game.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The Patriots were 8-2, headed for 14-2 and a comeback victory over Atlanta in Super Bowl LI in Houston, where Atlanta blew a 28-3 lead with Shanahan as offensive coordinator and New England won 34-28 in overtime.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The report, which was first covered by the Washington Post, looked at the top 25 employers in each state that employed the most SNAP and Medicaid recipients.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Ovechkin looked high with his arms raised while drifting toward the boards before turning around to be mobbed by Capitals teammates who had left the bench to celebrate with him.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Avs stumbled out of the starting blocks the past two seasons.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Three years ago, two Sudanese men stumbled into a police station in the desert town of Tazirbu.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The rise of digital payment systems has made tipping both easier and more awkward, especially when prompts appear at counters, kiosks and drive-thru windows.—
Peter Burke,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Use this a couple of times a week for smoother, brighter skin (without getting sunburnt and sand in awkward places).—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The sure-handed Doubs muffed the recovery with less than two minutes remaining and the Packers leading by 7.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Robinson muffed the second-half kickoff to pin the 49ers at their 12.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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James Guillory / Imagn Images The Buffalo Sabres’ season has reached another tipping point.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
No conclusions have yet been reached as to the cause of the crash, and enquiries and analysis are ongoing.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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George slipped and tripped Brown, leading to a go-ahead Utah layup in a game Boston lost 105-103.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
On another occasion, a group of students tripped him to the ground, put a cheese crown made of paper on his head, and then taunted him with actual cheese.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbled. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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