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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fumbling
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
The characters are precisely strange, interestingly fumbling, and share with Days and Nights’s protagonists an anxious impatience and confusion.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
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
Signs of hypothermia in adults include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness.
—Jarrod Wardwell, Houston Chronicle, 26 Jan. 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
Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Last season’s Detroit Tigers endured the worst divisional collapse in history, fumbling an AL Central lead that reached 15 1/2 games in July.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
One is how the administration is kind of fumbling around.
—Steve Metsch, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
This alone can shave valuable minutes off your screening and help you to breeze through the scanner instead of fumbling at the bins.
—Kayla Kitts, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Kathy Ireland accused her former team of fumbling her multimillion-dollar fortune, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Adjective
Gone is the fumbling little girl of before, replaced by a woman full of anger and ready to take her own life to prove her love.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
The characters are precisely strange, interestingly fumbling, and share with Days and Nights’s protagonists an anxious impatience and confusion.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
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
Signs of hypothermia in adults include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness.
—Jarrod Wardwell, Houston Chronicle, 26 Jan. 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
With the title in their grasp, the Ducks have greased up their fingers, fumbling into a four-game winless slump.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Last season’s Detroit Tigers endured the worst divisional collapse in history, fumbling an AL Central lead that reached 15 1/2 games in July.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
One is how the administration is kind of fumbling around.
—Steve Metsch, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
This alone can shave valuable minutes off your screening and help you to breeze through the scanner instead of fumbling at the bins.
—Kayla Kitts, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Kathy Ireland accused her former team of fumbling her multimillion-dollar fortune, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbling
Adjective
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As this video below from The Athletic explains, the key to making Luis Enrique’s side uncomfortable in possession is to be brave and press high.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Sutskever seemed uncomfortable with this idea.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The city did not adopt its own grocery tax to replace it, blowing a roughly $80 million hole in its budget.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jennifer Jackson, 39, was charged with felony counts of groping a 15-year-old girl and vandalism.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
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Garrett Mitchell lined a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the stumbling Boston Red Sox 8-6 on Monday night, sending them to their eighth loss in nine games.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
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On March 22, Emily Holman posted a TikTok video about her and her 18-year-old sister, Martha, stumbling upon a jean jacket that was hand-painted and gifted to a friend for Christmas.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Tawny port's claim to fame is how long it is aged, often in wooden barrels, before it's made available to enjoy.—
Maddie Topliff,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Much of the wooden buildings were destroyed by fire in 1923, later replaced with brick structures.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And Kash Patel's FBI seems to be bungling the investigation at every step.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Cricket was shot for yapping uncontrollably, bungling the mission, and killing innocent bystanders.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Emergency workers in Beirut spent the day looking for any survivors after Israel launched airstrikes into Lebanon's capital on Wednesday, targeting Hezbollah.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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The formula also includes peptides to soften lines, cocoa extract to provide antioxidant protection, and chronocyclin, a skincare ingredient that helps boost vitamin D in the skin for more youthful-looking, bouncy skin.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Johnston was whistled for tripping Matt Boldy in the final minute of the first, and the Wild power play needed just seconds to give them their first lead.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
10 Apr. 2026
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While tripping with the foot is not allowed, an ankle tap, which is performed with the hand, is considered a tackle and is permissible.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbling. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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