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
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
The Spurs had one more chance, but Stephon Castle fumbled the inbounds pass and pandemonium at Madison Square Garden followed.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Maye tossed eight interceptions and fumbled eight times last season.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
During Miami’s two periods of special teams work Malik Washington fumbled his first kickoff return, but most of the other punt returners and kickoff returned fielded their attempts well.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
Given how badly Karen Bass has fumbled as mayor, Raman couldn’t do much worse.
—Sal Rodriguez, Daily News, 28 May 2026
Second baseman Luis Arraez had a chance to turn a double play on Montgomery’s grounder but fumbled the ball and had to settle for one out.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 May 2026
In doing so, the TV adaptation fumbled the comics’ superior final act, turning Butcher’s own ignominious death at the hands of Hughie into an ineffective afterthought.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 May 2026
But Arsenal rallied while City fumbled, leading to scenes of delirium yesterday in London, where tens of thousands partied through the night in the club’s home borough of Islington.
—Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
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
Before that, when the Jets could have taken the lead on their opening drive, Allen fumbled on the Dolphins’ 1-yard line.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
The Spurs had one more chance, but Stephon Castle fumbled the inbounds pass and pandemonium at Madison Square Garden followed.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Maye tossed eight interceptions and fumbled eight times last season.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
During Miami’s two periods of special teams work Malik Washington fumbled his first kickoff return, but most of the other punt returners and kickoff returned fielded their attempts well.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
Given how badly Karen Bass has fumbled as mayor, Raman couldn’t do much worse.
—Sal Rodriguez, Daily News, 28 May 2026
Second baseman Luis Arraez had a chance to turn a double play on Montgomery’s grounder but fumbled the ball and had to settle for one out.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 May 2026
In doing so, the TV adaptation fumbled the comics’ superior final act, turning Butcher’s own ignominious death at the hands of Hughie into an ineffective afterthought.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 May 2026
But Arsenal rallied while City fumbled, leading to scenes of delirium yesterday in London, where tens of thousands partied through the night in the club’s home borough of Islington.
—Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbled
Adjective
-
Despite a clumsy apology tour, Hogan was never able to completely shake his darkest moment.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
Stupid, clumsy, slow, sloppy, weak, dirty.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
Once the opening whistle blew, all the focus turned to the field.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
-
After someone blew a hole in the Nord Stream Pipeline deep under the Baltic Sea in September 2022, the global media debated a geopolitical whodunnit.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
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The Coast Guard and partner search and rescue crews looked for him by air and sea, covering around 529 square miles, the statement said.—
Sofia Saric
June 16,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
-
Mobutu spoke of great achievements, the pride at being the first Black African team at a World Cup, even how good the Zaire yellow shirts (which Mobutu apparently had a hand in designing) looked against their skin.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Weiss, best known for her work as an opinion journalist and the launch of her site The Free Press, has stumbled in her new role in large part due to a lack of experience with TV operations.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
9 June 2026
-
In the fall of 1995, hunters stumbled on Josette’s bones in the woods near rural Carmel, an hour north of the Bronx.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
The awkward situation that Thiago is talking about involves receiving the ball with his back to a player who is closing him down at speed from behind.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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Almost nine years after their awkward handshake at the 2017 Bastille Day military parade, the two men politely shook hands and expressed their affinity for each other.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Anisimova got to within two points of the finish again, with Parry serving at 5-6, but then muffed a short, low backhand long.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
30 May 2026
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Critics also complain that Dodge, known for its muscle cars, muffed its transition to hybrid power systems.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With one out and runners on first and second, the Dodgers superstar, who had already reached base four times, was due up.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Iran did not confirm that a deal had been reached.—
Sarah Dean,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Britain’s Katie Boulter and Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez tripped over Lacoste signs during their early round matches.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
7 June 2026
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Drawing 0-0 at home with Brentford in March, the visitors should have conceded a penalty and been put down to 10 men when Tavernier was tripped in the area by Michael Kayode.—
Graham Scott,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbled. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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