Synonyms of fumbles

fumbles 1 of 2

noun

plural of fumble

as in mistakes

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy

played the entire piano piece without a single fumble

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mistakes
• blunders
• errors
• stumbles
• miscues
• trips
• flubs
• gaffes
• bobbles
• missteps
• inaccuracies
• gaffs
• clangers
• screwups
• slips
• faults
• bricks
• lapses
• goofs
• slipups
• fluffs
• boobs
• oversights
• clinkers
• boo-boos
• pratfalls
• bloopers
• snafus
• howlers
• misunderstandings
• boners
• miscalculations
• misjudgments
• misstatements
• bloomers
• misinterpretations
• misreadings
• misconceptions
• foul-ups
• misconstructions
• misdescriptions
• misapprehensions
• misimpressions
• miscomprehensions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accuracies
• precisions
• exactitudes
• perfections
• infallibilities
• inerrancies

fumbles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of fumble

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

• blows
• bungles
• murders
• dubs
• botches
• flubs
• boots
• ruins
• bobbles
• fluffs
• bumbles
• muffs
• mangles
• fouls up
• destroys
• spoils
• boggles
• screws up
• damages
• injures
• butchers
• goofs (up)
• blunders
• mars
• mucks up
• flaws
• messes (up)
• wrecks
• buggers (up)
• hurts
• foozles
• muddles
• impairs
• mutilates
• louses up
• bollixes (up)
• harms
• blights
• gums (up)
• blemishes
• vitiates
• mismanages
• mishandles
• piffles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reforms
• improves
• helps
• enhances
• rectifies
• refines
• remedies
• repairs
• ameliorates
• betters
• fixes
• doctors
• meliorates
• patches
• renovates
• revamps
• reconditions

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

• gropes
• looks
• reaches
• feels
• fishes
• scrabbles
• grabs
• snatches
• clutches
• hunts
• rakes
• seizes
• rummages
• captures
• seeks (out)
• casts about
• nabs
• nails
• rifles
• grabbles
• combs
• ransacks
• dredges
• scours
• gets
• corrals
• digs (through)

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

• stumbles
• trips
• blunders
• flubs
• nods
• mistakes
• fluffs
• errs
• fouls up
• slips up
• lays an egg
• drops the ball
• screws up
• boobs
• misunderstands
• goofs (up)
• bungles
• botches
• murders
• messes (up)
• louses up
• muffs
• bobbles
• mangles
• misjudges
• miscalculates
• miscues
• mishandles
• miscounts
• misconceives
• misconstrues
• butchers
• misinterprets
• foozles
• misgauges
• misdeems

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fumbles

Noun

That sets up what could be a wild night at Soldier Field, pitting a Bears defense that is known for turning the ball over against a Pats offense that has turned it over 13 times, including six of 11 fumbles lost. — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Las Vegas forced nine turnovers over the first three weeks — five fumbles and four interceptions. — ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026

Alabama lost two fumbles, and Russell threw two interceptions. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

While Gutierrez has been productive, his performance has not been spotless, as he was tagged for two fumbles against both Tulsa and UAB. — Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026

Gilman recorded his share of takeaways with his original team, the Chargers, collecting five interceptions, forcing five fumbles and recovering six over six seasons in Los Angeles. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

The Vikings overcame two lost fumbles inside the 20-yard line, one the Saints used as a catalyst for their only offensive touchdown of the afternoon and one that was returned for a score. — CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Willis fumbles After the Dolphins forced a Cincinnati punt, Willis fumbled -- his third in three games. — Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026

Rizzi pointed out that Hester had 41 fumbles in his career, including eight in his rookie season. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Verb

So the associate who fumbles a membership conversation doesn’t need a lecture. — Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

DeLand was driving inside the 20 yard line and Taihj Moore fumbles, recovered by Lake Mary. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

Buford scored 17 points off three Gainesville fumbles on punt plays. — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Sims catches a hitch and turns up field but fumbles the ball while switching hands. — Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026

Tensions between the galley and the interior continue to escalate over lunch service, when a radio mishap fumbles the order in which the food should go out. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 May 2026

The movie fumbles the chance to do something arresting with this seminal period in art. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 May 2026

If the creditor fumbles the process, then an otherwise valid and collectible debt may be barred. — Virginia Hammerle, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026

The Seahawks are a high-turnover team on both sides of the ball, but the 49ers have forced just two takeaways in the season series — both fumbles in the opener. — Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026