as in uncomfortable
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fumbling
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
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
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
Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
Since the first release in December, critics have accused the administration of fumbling the rollout and withholding too many documents.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
When the first part of season four ends with Benedict fumbling through a disastrous proposal that Sophie become his mistress, Ha does not crumple or explode in fury.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Gibson rushed for 1,000 yards in his second season, then suffered from fumbling issues over his final years with the Commanders.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
But Illinois is at risk of fumbling this opportunity.
—Susana A. Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Though the darkness of the material never swamps the comedy, a balance McGee calibrated deliberately — less interested in the whodunit than in the women fumbling through it.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Replacement players have been ridiculous for years, going back to 2009-10, when Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard made the grade by going 7-9, throwing 15 TDs with 10 interceptions and fumbling a league-worst 14 times.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Super Bowl 60 saw the Seattle Seahawks claim victory over the New England Patriots, but there were plenty of other winners — and losers — off the field during the game, with some brands scoring with their commercials and others fumbling their attempts for a loss.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
That bond helped buoy Stevenson through hard days, which peaked with the return of a fumbling problem that dogged him last year.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
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
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
Since the first release in December, critics have accused the administration of fumbling the rollout and withholding too many documents.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
Since the first release in December, critics have accused the administration of fumbling the rollout and withholding too many documents.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
When the first part of season four ends with Benedict fumbling through a disastrous proposal that Sophie become his mistress, Ha does not crumple or explode in fury.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Gibson rushed for 1,000 yards in his second season, then suffered from fumbling issues over his final years with the Commanders.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
But Illinois is at risk of fumbling this opportunity.
—Susana A. Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Though the darkness of the material never swamps the comedy, a balance McGee calibrated deliberately — less interested in the whodunit than in the women fumbling through it.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Replacement players have been ridiculous for years, going back to 2009-10, when Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard made the grade by going 7-9, throwing 15 TDs with 10 interceptions and fumbling a league-worst 14 times.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Super Bowl 60 saw the Seattle Seahawks claim victory over the New England Patriots, but there were plenty of other winners — and losers — off the field during the game, with some brands scoring with their commercials and others fumbling their attempts for a loss.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbling
Adjective
-
And second, there’s the audience’s uncomfortable tingle of recognition watching Vladimir Putin’s tightening stranglehold on the Russian press.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Fortunately, there are many people who care enough about ballet to face these uncomfortable truths, and who are working to bring ballet into the twenty-first century by challenging traditions that don’t serve dancers’ health or the long-term health of the artform.—
Chloe Angyal,
Time,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Wolves were determined to run him off the 3-point line in an effort to limit his effectiveness, but Bane countered by putting the ball on the floor and blowing by Minnesota’s perimeter defenders all game.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Ice crystals skittered across the plateau, catching in the curve of the sastrugi before blowing free.—
Cree LeFavour,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sheriff got into a tussle with his killer after the stranger started drunkenly groping women, including the victim’s girlfriend, according to Fawaz.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
All the incidents occurred near the Point Richmond tunnel, and all involved him either groping the victims or attempting to pull off their clothes, police said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The man then tripped, stumbling to the ground.—
Andrew Adeolu,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
How Species Actually Get Discovered Now The popular image of species discovery involves an explorer stumbling across a strange creature in an untouched jungle.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Home-building robots could help fix the housing crisis A UK tech company says its portable micro-factories can produce the wooden frame of a house in just one day.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Add 2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped, and 1 medium red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, finely chopped, and cook, stirring often with a heatproof rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until vegetables are very soft and deep golden and bottom of pot is starting to brown in spots, 10–15 minutes.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cricket was shot for yapping uncontrollably, bungling the mission, and killing innocent bystanders.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Walsh was joined by Sean Davis, Saagar Enjeti, and other conservative commentators who spent the day accusing the administration of bungling its messaging on the conflict.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Glassman said the family’s legal team is looking into whether Khimberly was properly examined during her initial hospitalization.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
In 2024, Alphabet was also looking for external investors to grow GFiber, and eventually spin it off into an independent business, according to Reuters.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Olen Zellweger committed a tripping penalty in overtime, but Anaheim killed the four-on-three disadvantage.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Olen Zellweger committed a tripping penalty in overtime, but Anaheim killed the 4-on-3 disadvantage.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbling. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
