as in mistakes
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
played the entire piano piece without a single fumble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blows
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 gropes
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 stumbles
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 fumbles
Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
The 49ers have recovered six fumbles this season (one less than the Rams), and their offense has coughed up the ball just four times, including a Mac Jones fumble last game on a sack.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
The Mariners intercepted three more passes, and Landon Manley recovered two fumbles, the second on his strip sack at the Pacifica 19.
—Steve Dulas, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
The Colts had turned the ball over just four times in eight games, only for Jones to personally throw three interceptions and lose two fumbles against the Steelers alone.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
And in the last two games, Rattler has committed six turnovers — four interceptions and two lost fumbles.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The Panthers also had three fumbles throughout the game, only recovering one.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
The loss featured sacks and fumbles and an interception and missed kicks and injuries — and that’s without mentioning the defense, who arguably had the roughest day overall.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
And Boise State’s defense victimized the conference’s worst offense, intercepting freshman quarterback Carter Jones three times — Jeremiah Earby had two of them — recovering two fumbles and holding the Pack to 247 total yards.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2025
Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
As Lester fumbles for his bird whistle in the fountain to activate the camera, he gets thrown back in this tussle with Tillman and is killed.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2025
While both teams were in position to flip some results, the Ravens have to feel a little snakebitten with how their games have played out, including a couple of fourth-quarter Derrick Henry fumbles.
—Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
Baltimore is smarting from that Monday home loss to Deroit -- but Crows would be 3-0 if not for a pair of Derrick Henry fumbles.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Drake London fumbles the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
Lake Mary’s O’Shea Faison fumbles after picking up the first down yardage.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
Pittsburgh’s defense bottled up running back Jonathan Taylor and sacked quarterback Daniel Jones five times while forcing him into three interceptions and two fumbles.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
The 49ers have recovered six fumbles this season (one less than the Rams), and their offense has coughed up the ball just four times, including a Mac Jones fumble last game on a sack.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
The Mariners intercepted three more passes, and Landon Manley recovered two fumbles, the second on his strip sack at the Pacifica 19.
—Steve Dulas, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
The Colts had turned the ball over just four times in eight games, only for Jones to personally throw three interceptions and lose two fumbles against the Steelers alone.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
And in the last two games, Rattler has committed six turnovers — four interceptions and two lost fumbles.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The Panthers also had three fumbles throughout the game, only recovering one.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
The loss featured sacks and fumbles and an interception and missed kicks and injuries — and that’s without mentioning the defense, who arguably had the roughest day overall.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
And Boise State’s defense victimized the conference’s worst offense, intercepting freshman quarterback Carter Jones three times — Jeremiah Earby had two of them — recovering two fumbles and holding the Pack to 247 total yards.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
The premise has the potential for slapstick silliness, as an incompetent Seoul family fumbles its way through opening a hunting lodge in the Korean countryside.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
As Lester fumbles for his bird whistle in the fountain to activate the camera, he gets thrown back in this tussle with Tillman and is killed.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2025
While both teams were in position to flip some results, the Ravens have to feel a little snakebitten with how their games have played out, including a couple of fourth-quarter Derrick Henry fumbles.
—Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
Baltimore is smarting from that Monday home loss to Deroit -- but Crows would be 3-0 if not for a pair of Derrick Henry fumbles.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Drake London fumbles the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
Lake Mary’s O’Shea Faison fumbles after picking up the first down yardage.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbles
Noun
-
Will Baltimore manage to thwart a Vikings rushing attack that gashed the Lions for 142 yards, cause McCarthy to assume a heavier load than Minnesota’s coaches would like and force the first-year starter into youthful mistakes?—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Hoover finished 319 yards on 34-of-50 passing, but his two turnovers were critical mistakes that led to TCU’s slow start in the first half.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Whatever way the wind blows, that’s the way college sports go.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Dolphins beating themselves Mike McDaniel blows a gasket after Larry Borom commits a false start and the Dolphins miss the field goal.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the video, a woman exposes herself and an officer, identified by investigators as Herman, gropes her, police said in a statement last year.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But Zoë’s first adaptation stumbles out of the gate — in large part because this show isn’t really her show.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
29 Oct. 2025
-
With the three Premier League stumbles and a grating 1-0 Champions League shutout to Galatasaray, Liverpool found itself with four uninterrupted losses for the first time since 2014.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The series had so many moments — center fielders trucking left fielders, base-running blunders, walk offs, extra-innings games.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
-
This season, it is considered a win if the Broncos commit fewer than five blunders a week under Darren Rizzi.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Gentleman thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) circles the prize while Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) bungles the pursuit with sublime obliviousness.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The boy jerks his head as if to wake himself, turns around abruptly and looks the other way, even though there’s nothing special to see besides darkness and emptiness, which is where a living eye should never look.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The way the Eastern Conference looks right now is only going to make this early-season slump tougher on the Sabres.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Avoid long or sharp swords, sticks or canes to prevent injury if a child trips and falls.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Nicholas trips over a bramble, falls to his hands and knees in the soaking grass.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fumbles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbles. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share