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
Relevance
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
as in uncomfortable
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fumbling
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
The fifth-year back out of Oklahoma is still repping with the first-team offense, but rookie second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson stands to see more playing time if Stevenon’s fumbling issues continue.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
The uncharacteristic nature of fumbling the ball three times in a row is not lost on the star running back.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Her accused City Hall of fumbling in the Midway.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
Boise State played an uneven first half in Tampa, fumbling twice and committing a huge penalty that gave life to a South Florida touchdown drive.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 29 Aug. 2025
Facial recognition can help reduce wait times, eliminate the hassle of fumbling with documents and free up staff to focus on higher-value service.
—Jeff Kim, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
There was a bizarre play in the first half when Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart dropped back to pass then scrambled from the Giants’ 45-yard line to the Patriots’ 32-yard line before fumbling the ball away to the Patriots.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Eskridge caught an 11-yard touchdown pass and had another 27-yard catch and run after fumbling an early punt return opportunity.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Mattison was Miami’s best running back in camp before fumbling twice during Friday’s joint practice.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
The fifth-year back out of Oklahoma is still repping with the first-team offense, but rookie second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson stands to see more playing time if Stevenon’s fumbling issues continue.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
But Henry hasn’t made a habit of fumbling throughout his career, so this is an unusual stretch.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
The uncharacteristic nature of fumbling the ball three times in a row is not lost on the star running back.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Her accused City Hall of fumbling in the Midway.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
Boise State played an uneven first half in Tampa, fumbling twice and committing a huge penalty that gave life to a South Florida touchdown drive.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 29 Aug. 2025
Facial recognition can help reduce wait times, eliminate the hassle of fumbling with documents and free up staff to focus on higher-value service.
—Jeff Kim, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
There was a bizarre play in the first half when Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart dropped back to pass then scrambled from the Giants’ 45-yard line to the Patriots’ 32-yard line before fumbling the ball away to the Patriots.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Eskridge caught an 11-yard touchdown pass and had another 27-yard catch and run after fumbling an early punt return opportunity.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Mattison was Miami’s best running back in camp before fumbling twice during Friday’s joint practice.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbling
Verb
-
Equating your value to your bank account, or blowing cash to feel validated.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
5 Oct. 2025
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He and his apprentices host glass- blowing classes on Fridays and Saturdays (reservation required), when guests can make anything from a bowl to a tumbler to an ornament.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The initial incident occurred at the semi-annual Monster-Mania Con in Cherry Hill, New Jersey in August 2022, with several women who posed with Busey accusing the actor groping them.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
20 Sep. 2025
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Federal prosecutors here have filed a felony case against a man who was convicted this year of groping three women and a girl over two days, and of exposing himself to a nurse, after returning to the Bay Area from two deportations.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Ross and the unit's six other horses are responsible for helping the police handle crowd control, whether its amid the thousands stumbling through Lower Broadway or the rush of 65,000 fans entering or leaving Nissan Stadium for a Titans game.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
In other words, Steve is a lot to play, and the Oscar-winner throws himself into every forlorn expression, every kindly mentoring session, every manic bit of rushing to and fro as chaos reigns around him, every stumbling step toward self-medicating into oblivion.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This is an uncomfortable reality, butting up against every idea of American exceptionalism.—
Hugh Kellenberger,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The woman described being shocked and feeling uncomfortable.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Customers looking for suggested dates for military or international addresses should visit the USPS holiday shipping page.—
Michelle Del Rey,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Investigators from the Hamilton County Coroner's Office are looking for relatives or friends of a Walnut Hills man who died.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Farley, a former New York City health commissioner who teaches at Tulane University, acknowledged that many factors contribute to falls, including the physical impairments and deteriorating eyesight associated with advancing age; alcohol abuse; and tripping hazards in people’s homes.—
Paula Span,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Carr ends up tripping and falling down stairs, eating soup laced with Plan B One Step emergency contraceptive, and getting doused in cat feces, which leads to him contracting toxoplasmosis, a parasite that can be transferred to fetuses during pregnancy.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This wooden foot massager roller features an arched design and rows of nubs to hit different acupressure points to provide relief.—
L. Daniela Alvarez,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Sep. 2025
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The judge gestured at Lindor to take a seat in one of the courtroom’s wooden pew benches.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbling. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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