as in mistakes
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
played the entire piano piece without a single fumble
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of fumbles
Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Such livestreams can convey seemingly greater transparency than short videos by allowing viewers to see robotic flaws and fumbles in real time.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
Jedi-in-training Rey (Daisy Ridley), reluctant hero Finn (John Boyega) and X-wing warrior Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) lead the ragtag Resistance against a returning Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) in a film that's full of logic fumbles and muddies the focus of the third and final trilogy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 May 2026
Had five interceptions for the Rockets over the past three seasons and also forced eight fumbles, including four in 2023 and three last year.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
Rodriguez is a turnover machine (four interceptions, seven forced fumbles last year) with outstanding instincts and feel in zone coverage.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
But his 10 career fumbles (Buffalo, New Mexico State and Arkansas) are a major concern.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
As Trump fumbles with the Pandora’s Box he’s broken open, there’s no shortage of historical analogies to choose from.
—Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Browner finished his career with 37 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
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
The Honda backs up a few feet as the agent fumbles at the door handle.
—George Petras, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Texas kick returner Ryan Niblett gets blasted on a kick return and fumbles the ball, and Michigan takes advantage with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Underwood to Kendrick Bell.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
Toney fumbles Malachi Toney fumbled near midfield.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
For the one who fumbles with matches Sleek, sustainable, and a satisfying way to light candles.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 15 Nov. 2025
Noun
Last season was a struggle for the Ravens, and at times for Henry, whose three lost fumbles contributed to losses and the team’s 1-5 start.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Such livestreams can convey seemingly greater transparency than short videos by allowing viewers to see robotic flaws and fumbles in real time.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
Jedi-in-training Rey (Daisy Ridley), reluctant hero Finn (John Boyega) and X-wing warrior Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) lead the ragtag Resistance against a returning Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) in a film that's full of logic fumbles and muddies the focus of the third and final trilogy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 May 2026
Had five interceptions for the Rockets over the past three seasons and also forced eight fumbles, including four in 2023 and three last year.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
Rodriguez is a turnover machine (four interceptions, seven forced fumbles last year) with outstanding instincts and feel in zone coverage.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
But his 10 career fumbles (Buffalo, New Mexico State and Arkansas) are a major concern.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
As Trump fumbles with the Pandora’s Box he’s broken open, there’s no shortage of historical analogies to choose from.
—Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Browner finished his career with 37 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
The Honda backs up a few feet as the agent fumbles at the door handle.
—George Petras, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Texas kick returner Ryan Niblett gets blasted on a kick return and fumbles the ball, and Michigan takes advantage with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Underwood to Kendrick Bell.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
Toney fumbles Malachi Toney fumbled near midfield.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
For the one who fumbles with matches Sleek, sustainable, and a satisfying way to light candles.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 15 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbles
Noun
-
The issue is not that AI makes mistakes—human decision-making is also imperfect—but that models operate at a scale and speed that rapidly amplifies those errors faster than they can be discovered and addressed.—
Troy Holaday,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
But Boutros has acknowledged mistakes made in the case involving the Broadview protesters.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
As with other members of the poplar family such as quaking aspen, the part of the tree that attaches the leaf to the branch is several inches long, causing leaves to flap rapidly from side to side when the wind blows.—
Sheryl DeVore,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
-
This doesn’t work for Alice, however, who goes from disbelief to sabotage to an act of betrayal whose wreckage spills out over the series and blows back on her.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
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
-
The first robot stumbles on aluminum debris, its wheels furiously trying to get traction and move around the obstacle.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Roher and co-writer Robert Ramsay craft a classically structured screenplay about a talented piano tuner who stumbles into a life of crime, upon which Roher, editor Greg O’Bryant, and composer Will Bates embroider jazzy rhythms and inflections, inspired by the musical world our characters inhabit.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Read on to see the beauty blunders, silly styling and overall head-to-toe outfits that these stars regret.—
Tanisha Bhat,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
-
Nearly all of them are blunders, offenses or revelations about the people Collins has put in top positions in his House office, his campaign office or both.—
AJC.com,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
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
-
My yoga jacket looks just like this one, with a similar standup collar and zipper pockets.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
In pending cases, the court also looks likely to frustrate his attempts to curtail birthright citizenship and remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board.—
Washington Post Editorial Board,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The appeal stems from a 2021 lawsuit filed by a California man who argued that the ad features young children, even though some of the proceeds are directed toward programs that fund Israel trips for older teens.—
Francie Ebert,
NBC news,
6 June 2026
-
Brown has four championships as an assistant and seven Finals trips overall.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumbles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbles. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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