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
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Recent Examples of fumbles
Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2025
After a game where everything wasn’t smooth sailing – Chicago had plenty of pre-snap penalties and Williams’ two fumbles came on botched snaps with the center – the young quarterback says these experiences are important if the team are going to continue improving.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Hoover has eight turnovers this season (six interceptions and two fumbles lost).
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
Jacksonville's 10 interceptions lead the NFL, while Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown only two picks on 209 attempts but has five fumbles.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2025
Jaylen Murray had two rushing TDs, two sacks and recovered two fumbles.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Oct. 2025
During the incident, one of the officers drops his gun and fumbles for it.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
Could’ve won, if not for losing three of the game’s four fumbles.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Warner has also forced two fumbles and recovered one this season.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 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
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
After a game where everything wasn’t smooth sailing – Chicago had plenty of pre-snap penalties and Williams’ two fumbles came on botched snaps with the center – the young quarterback says these experiences are important if the team are going to continue improving.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Hoover has eight turnovers this season (six interceptions and two fumbles lost).
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
Jacksonville's 10 interceptions lead the NFL, while Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown only two picks on 209 attempts but has five fumbles.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2025
Jaylen Murray had two rushing TDs, two sacks and recovered two fumbles.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Oct. 2025
During the incident, one of the officers drops his gun and fumbles for it.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
Could’ve won, if not for losing three of the game’s four fumbles.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Warner has also forced two fumbles and recovered one this season.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 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
-
The hitters can extend at-bats or, in the case of Guerrero and veteran George Springer, detonate mistakes.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Assisting guests to create memorable experiences through the years means Ali has also seen his fair share of requests that shed light on some of the biggest travel mistakes.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 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 post 9/11 blunders in which Cheney played a part can be tied to the rise of ISIS, perennial instability in the Middle East, the migrant crisis and the crushing debt burden ($38 trillion and counting) that looms over the US economy.—
Ben Wedeman,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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Potential adversaries interpret political action in zero-sum terms; see malice and evil design in mere blunders and coincidence; trumpet necessity rather than navigate choice; and, in extreme cases, invent pretext or promise profit to make more palatable a dubious cause.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 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
-
There’s no denying that travel looks a little different these days.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
2 Nov. 2025
-
One idea that still looks elegant but adds a little something-something?—
Luz García,
Glamour,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Avoid long or sharp swords, sticks or canes to prevent injury if a child trips and falls.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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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 8 Nov. 2025.
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