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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
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
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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
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
The Blue Demons’ guard panicked, fumbling the ball, and Fudd read her perfectly.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Just make sure to book in advance to avoid fumbling your Super Bowl Sunday.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
The rest of the team was also fumbling, and everyone but Edwards had struggled to score.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Yet, as any visitor stalled in traffic or fumbling for cash to top up a transit card discovers, the old Seoul persists beneath the new.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Stroud fumbling five times, losing two and throwing an interception.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
Beauty products have taken over my sink, leaving me fumbling for my go-to face washes and serums every morning and night.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 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
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
The Blue Demons’ guard panicked, fumbling the ball, and Fudd read her perfectly.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Just make sure to book in advance to avoid fumbling your Super Bowl Sunday.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
The rest of the team was also fumbling, and everyone but Edwards had struggled to score.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Yet, as any visitor stalled in traffic or fumbling for cash to top up a transit card discovers, the old Seoul persists beneath the new.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Stroud fumbling five times, losing two and throwing an interception.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
Beauty products have taken over my sink, leaving me fumbling for my go-to face washes and serums every morning and night.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbling
Adjective
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Meanwhile, the situation at the Ankara State Theater has uncomfortable parallels with the recent shuttering of the Kennedy Center in Washington in response to the artists boycotting it in protest at its rebranding.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
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The role of any newspaper, especially one with the long and proud legacy of The Sun, is not to smooth over uncomfortable realities in the name of civility.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Reality Check makes a point to mention ad nauseam that much of the public backlash toward America’s Next Top Model took hold following the pandemic, when a majority of people were blowing through their to-watch queue, desperately seeking fresh viewing fodder.—
Hunter Lacey,
Allure,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Vile — lots of climbing, groping, grabbing, grunting and dirt.—
Linda Perillo,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
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Patients accused Heaps of groping them, performing unnecessarily invasive examinations and making suggestive comments.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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He’s saved by a drunken Ser Arlan, who comes stumbling into the alley and instinctively follows his knightly code to defend the innocent.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
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The victim was then seen stumbling backwards and sustained a visible mark on her neck, according to the sheriff's office.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In mid-January, an unassuming man in khakis and a button-down shirt walked to a wooden lectern at a school board meeting in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Bright colors pop against dark wooden features, reflecting the vibrant history of the hotel and of the city of Palm Springs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hollywood stars would do well to worry less about bungling the teleprompter and more about being true to their heart.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Feb. 2026
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The pair wasn’t done with its bungling yet.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Investigators are now looking into the cause of the explosion, the report said without giving further details.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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With two veterans gone, Coach Tyronn Lue will be looking deeper down the bench for help, especially late in games.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Square-jawed detectives were tripping over corpses at midtown construction sites, blind vigilantes were redecorating Hell’s Kitchen with body parts and even poor Lester the doorman ended up dead in an Upper West Side courtyard fountain.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
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Finland had a power play opportunity after a tripping call against Slovakia's captain, Tomas Tatar.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbling. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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