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
James Boyd, New York Times, 25 Apr. 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
There’s a time and place for trying to force fumbles.
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Awkward bathroom stall fumbles aside (and that’s only really a grind when in layers), a jumpsuit is such a practical must-have for any wide-ranging trip.
—Alexandra Pereira, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
Virginia Hammerle, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Sonny feels like a departure; unlike Bernthal’s mercenaries, Sonny fumbles with his gun, has a bleeding heart, and lays his vulnerabilities bare.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Feb. 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
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
Noun
The 6-1, 230-pounder led the Big Ten with 136 tackles and also forced two fumbles in en route to a 2025 second-team All-Big Ten nod.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 25 Apr. 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
There’s a time and place for trying to force fumbles.
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Awkward bathroom stall fumbles aside (and that’s only really a grind when in layers), a jumpsuit is such a practical must-have for any wide-ranging trip.
—Alexandra Pereira, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
If the creditor fumbles the process, then an otherwise valid and collectible debt may be barred.
—Virginia Hammerle, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Sonny feels like a departure; unlike Bernthal’s mercenaries, Sonny fumbles with his gun, has a bleeding heart, and lays his vulnerabilities bare.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Feb. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbles
Noun
-
In an email obtained by the Mercury News, Kinnear-Rausch offered clues as to the mistakes that led to Jaxon’s April 9 death.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
But just those little mistakes cost us the second goal.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But if all of America’s trading partners, or former trading partners, are heading into crisis, the crisis blows back.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Most notably, Turkey and Greece came to blows several times, usually over their still-unresolved territorial conflict over Cyprus in the Mediterranean.—
Carla Martinez Machain,
The Conversation,
21 Apr. 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
-
Falling back to the pack and seven points shy of San Jose, which won 4-1 at BMO Stadium on Sunday, LAFC has seen its recent MLS stumbles coincide with advancing to a two-leg CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal, which commences Wednesday at BMO Stadium and ends May 6 in Toluca, Mexico.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
If the student stumbles, the AI agent gives them clues, along with criticism and positive feedback.—
Jocelyn Gecker,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Many similar blunders have been recorded in years past, including arguably the worst example, a disastrous decision three decades ago to overhaul how electricity was produced, distributed and priced.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Several real estate blunders exacerbated the situation.—
Harvey Levine,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 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
-
Depth-chart impact The Ravens’ edge-rush room suddenly looks pretty crowded.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Nazem Kadri is passing up shots and sometimes looks uncomfortable gripping his stick right now.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And, there's such a thing as guys trips only.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Plus, the amount of walking that Japan trips require is no joke.—
Elaina Verhoff,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumbles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbles. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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