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
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
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
Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
There is no right moment, and the early scenes are about fumbling steps and the tentativeness of awkward new roles.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
In other words, no more blaring commercials leaving viewers fumbling for the remote — platforms like Paramount+ and Netflix are going to have to figure out how to keep the product-hawking at an equivalent volume to their films and series.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
But the Patriots gave it right back as Rhamondre Stevenson, who has had trouble fumbling early this season, was stripped after catching a pass from Maye.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Although the scoring position turnover trend continued, with CJ Stokes and Javen Nicholas fumbling in plus-territory on consecutive drives in the third quarter, the offense was much improved with Wilcke in the game.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 4 Oct. 2025
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
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
Verb
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
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
However, his key mistakes included an interception, being sacked six times, and fumbling the ball away twice.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
There is no right moment, and the early scenes are about fumbling steps and the tentativeness of awkward new roles.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
In other words, no more blaring commercials leaving viewers fumbling for the remote — platforms like Paramount+ and Netflix are going to have to figure out how to keep the product-hawking at an equivalent volume to their films and series.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
But the Patriots gave it right back as Rhamondre Stevenson, who has had trouble fumbling early this season, was stripped after catching a pass from Maye.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Although the scoring position turnover trend continued, with CJ Stokes and Javen Nicholas fumbling in plus-territory on consecutive drives in the third quarter, the offense was much improved with Wilcke in the game.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 4 Oct. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbling
Verb
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Raking, blowing, and using a mower collection bag are useful for managing leaves on turf.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Maybe Lewis wasn’t blowing smoke but telling the truth.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the Jets have been mostly inept for a decade and a half, and the franchise has been groping for some sort of good fortune.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Footage of a father stumbling around, apparently carrying the headless body of his baby?—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Remaining unclaimed playoff spots The final two playoff spots in the Western Conference are up for grabs, with FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes all stumbling towards the finish line.—
Tom Bogert,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In its eerie, uncomfortable depiction of Derry as a toxic version of the all-American town, the series is sometimes more powerful than when Pennywise jumps at the screen.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
-
There’s certainly an authenticity to this development; who among us hasn’t procrastinated when facing an uncomfortable decision?—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
-
The Dodgers are looking to become baseball's first back-to-back champions in a quarter-century, as the Blue Jays hope to win their first World Series title since 1993.—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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This Panasonic point-and-shoot digital camera is an easy-to-use starter option for anyone looking to up their picture game and not have to worry about draining their phone battery throughout the day or having to empty their storage space to take more vacation photos.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Linebacker Alex Anzalone was fined $12,172 for unnecessary roughness (striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing) and defensive tackle Tyler Lacy was hit with a $5,722 fine for the same reason.—
Anne Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
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Defensemen Nick Leddy and Dmitry Orlov took tripping penalties one minute apart in the first period.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The dilapidated wooden trim and sagging porticos were spruced up a few years ago after preservationists complained to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, but the upstairs windows reveal glimpses of peeling paint, crumbling plaster, and collapsing ceilings inside.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
20 Oct. 2025
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The architect tapped France’s top craftspeople to work on every detail of the train’s interior, from the clocks developed with Cartier to the wooden panels embroidered with Japanese beads.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbling. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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