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1
as in blowing
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in groping
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 stumbling
to make a mistake
just when it looked like he was going to get away with the ruse, he fumbled
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Recent Examples of fumbling
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Rhamondre Stevenson continues to run hard, freed (for now) from the demons that followed his fumbling issues early in the season.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
One-word answers litter the path toward your desperate, fumbling attempt to get away.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 1 Oct. 2025
No stars are required to dress up and parade for the cameras or to answer fumbling questions from the press; no juries haggle over prizes; and, above all, there is no obligation to observe the highly suspect principle that the latest thing is bound to be the best.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Georgia Tech also went 3 of 6, fumbling at the BYU 11-yard line in the third quarter and having a 35-yard field goal by Aidan Birr blocked late in the quarter.
—Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
After fumbling a number of product rollouts, the company has bounced back this year, thanks to hefty investments in AI infrastructure and the success of its Gemini app.
—Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025
Then, there’s Ime Udoka, whose story is still talked about (at least within my friend group; fumbling Nia Long is insane).
—Okla Jones, Essence, 12 Dec. 2025
Florida fans on social media appeared upset with athletic director Scott Stricklin for fumbling the bag on Kiffin and then considering hiring a Group of 5 coach as Napier's replacement.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Cushionaire Canoe Suede Clog These slip-on clogs are perfect for travelers who need to breeze through airport security without fumbling with laces.
—Gabriela Garcia, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2025
Ask for routes, adjust plans, or get suggestions without fumbling with menus or distracting from the road.
—New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2025
Reclaim your power, even if that means fumbling your way through some uncomfortable convos or realizations.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
The robbery, fumbling and amateur, unfolds in classic Reichardt detail, down to Mooney overlooking the fact that the day he’s chosen happens to be one when he’s supposed to be watching his kids, who’ll be out of school.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Rhamondre Stevenson continues to run hard, freed (for now) from the demons that followed his fumbling issues early in the season.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
One-word answers litter the path toward your desperate, fumbling attempt to get away.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 1 Oct. 2025
No stars are required to dress up and parade for the cameras or to answer fumbling questions from the press; no juries haggle over prizes; and, above all, there is no obligation to observe the highly suspect principle that the latest thing is bound to be the best.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
The image of Gobert fumbling with the ball and having his shot attempt rim out has been a lasting one.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Georgia Tech also went 3 of 6, fumbling at the BYU 11-yard line in the third quarter and having a 35-yard field goal by Aidan Birr blocked late in the quarter.
—Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
After fumbling a number of product rollouts, the company has bounced back this year, thanks to hefty investments in AI infrastructure and the success of its Gemini app.
—Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025
Then, there’s Ime Udoka, whose story is still talked about (at least within my friend group; fumbling Nia Long is insane).
—Okla Jones, Essence, 12 Dec. 2025
Florida fans on social media appeared upset with athletic director Scott Stricklin for fumbling the bag on Kiffin and then considering hiring a Group of 5 coach as Napier's replacement.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Cushionaire Canoe Suede Clog These slip-on clogs are perfect for travelers who need to breeze through airport security without fumbling with laces.
—Gabriela Garcia, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2025
Ask for routes, adjust plans, or get suggestions without fumbling with menus or distracting from the road.
—New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2025
Reclaim your power, even if that means fumbling your way through some uncomfortable convos or realizations.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbling
Adjective
-
Although the meeting went smoothly and led to concrete commitments, the bonhomie was strained by uncomfortable questions at a news conference about the issue hanging over the day’s diplomacy.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Rather than telegraphing trouble in paradise, the move could simply be a styling choice—or a response to high temperatures, which cause one’s hands to swell and can make wearing a ring uncomfortable.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Somehow, this new sensation emitted an awareness of the magnitude in which skateboarding would warp my life, which only ratcheted up the anxiety of blowing it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Among his convictions, Rahab was convicted of groping the butts of at least three different women and a 15-year-old girl in 2023.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Nov. 2025
-
One aide filed a police report accusing him of groping her breast, though a district attorney declined to prosecute.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Packers are stumbling coming into the playoff with four straight losses, two of them via absolute giveaways.—
Hank Gola,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Government agencies and businesses that invest in this training, and that insist every critical number survives a deterministic check, will capture AI's benefits without stumbling into its blind spots.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The master lawsuit in the Palisades fire blames several defendants for overgrown brush, toppled wooden power poles, natural gas explosions and a lack of water that all contributed to the mammoth blaze.—
Tony Saavedra,
Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Kristin Keyes, the founder of Kristin Keyes Interiors also in Nashville, loves incorporating antique wooden tables into dining rooms.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At that point, the day had been characterized by sloppiness and frustration, with Bears pass catchers failing to secure at least a half-dozen catchable throws from their quarterback and, on three occasions, bungling fourth-down opportunities.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
-
When Souleymane rehearses his account, in an early scene, Barry admonishes him for blandly reciting (and often bungling) the false facts he’s been given.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Today’s pairs are built for all conditions, designed to carry you through long days without blisters or fuss, while still looking effortless.—
Erica Paige,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Thousands of players are in the transfer portal looking for greener grass, either in cash, playing time or a sexier stage.—
Mac Engel Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Early in the third period, Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov was checking with his stick instead of his body when he was called for tripping former Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The police footage shows the man turning and bolting away from officers before quickly tripping over his own feet just a few steps past his car.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbling. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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