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
Relevance
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
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 fumbled
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2025
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Fans were exiting en masse in the top of the ninth when Frelick’s RBI single off Rule 5 rookie Ryan Watson, fumbled by reigning AL Gold Glove centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, increased Milwaukee’s lead to three.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Andrea Pinamonti’s sublime strike helped Sassuolo fight back to win 2-1 as Cagliari fumbled a precious lead.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
The Storm had the Inter&Co Stadium crowd of 11,127 people on their feet early after Columbus fumbled the opening kickoff and safety Josh Minkins jumped on it to give the Storm their initial possession inside the 30-yard line.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
As the years went by, judges complained that the city’s in-house lawyers had fumbled key casework.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
In the second inning, well before his ninth-inning blunder, Burger fumbled an infield pop-up from García with two outs.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2026
On Thursday, March 26, 2026, Tony Award nominee Christopher Jackson stepped up to the mic at Citi Field for the New York Mets’ opening night game — and fumbled one of the most iconic lines in the song.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
The lawyer suggested the doctors at the Meadows fumbled Spacey’s treatment because their program was geared toward addiction.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 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
In the 88th minute, Neuer fumbled a routine shot and allowed Joselu to equalise.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Fans were exiting en masse in the top of the ninth when Frelick’s RBI single off Rule 5 rookie Ryan Watson, fumbled by reigning AL Gold Glove centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, increased Milwaukee’s lead to three.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Andrea Pinamonti’s sublime strike helped Sassuolo fight back to win 2-1 as Cagliari fumbled a precious lead.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
The Storm had the Inter&Co Stadium crowd of 11,127 people on their feet early after Columbus fumbled the opening kickoff and safety Josh Minkins jumped on it to give the Storm their initial possession inside the 30-yard line.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
As the years went by, judges complained that the city’s in-house lawyers had fumbled key casework.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
In the second inning, well before his ninth-inning blunder, Burger fumbled an infield pop-up from García with two outs.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2026
On Thursday, March 26, 2026, Tony Award nominee Christopher Jackson stepped up to the mic at Citi Field for the New York Mets’ opening night game — and fumbled one of the most iconic lines in the song.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
The lawyer suggested the doctors at the Meadows fumbled Spacey’s treatment because their program was geared toward addiction.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbled
Adjective
-
Even young Oklahoma City required a clumsy postseason audition.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The driver and his accomplice then mounted a clumsy getaway that resulted in their scooter crashing about three blocks from the scene, cops said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Despite dynamite starts from Taj Bradley and Bailey Ober on Saturday and Sunday, the Twins’ relievers blew saves on consecutive days, leading to backbreaking losses.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
After Jordan Romano blew two save opportunities against the Yankees, right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn gave up two runs in the eighth that ended a scoreless duel.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Boy Band Confidential *NSYNC's lineup almost looked very different.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Stocks rallied yesterday, as investors looked past a breakdown in Iran peace talks.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But as Adebayo stumbled to regain his balance, Ball reached out and pulled on Adebayo’s leg.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Adebayo stumbled but did not fall.—
Steve Reed,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The few who described speaking with her told me that their interactions had been very brief—just a short, awkward hello.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Communication can be blunt and awkward.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Critics also complain that Dodge, known for its muscle cars, muffed its transition to hybrid power systems.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
-
But early in the second half, with the Seahawks leading 17-13, Smith muffed another kick and the Seahawks recovered the ball.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
McDavid reached 1,220 career points, passing Jeremy Roenick, Larry Murphy and Jean Beliveau to advance to 47th on the NHL list.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) and the United Steelworkers union have reached a tentative agreement, two weeks after the utility locked out 1,600 workers amid a contract dispute.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Adebayo took his hard fall when tripped by the hand of Ball while saving the ball from going out of bounds beneath the Heat basket with the Heat down 28-26.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Ball tripped Adebayo, with Ball swiping and making contact with Adebayo’s lower leg.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbled. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
