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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in uncomfortable
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fumbling
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
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
But the former Sooner struggled last season, recording just 801 yards on nearly the same number of carries (207) as in 2022, while fumbling a career-high seven times.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 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
Then fumbling up the receiver Hello?
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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
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
But the former Sooner struggled last season, recording just 801 yards on nearly the same number of carries (207) as in 2022, while fumbling a career-high seven times.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 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
Then fumbling up the receiver Hello?
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbling
Verb
-
As health restrictions discouraged people from blowing directly into instruments, Gajewski and Brown reimagined the design.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
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Soldiers have also been spotted in parks carrying out tasks typically assigned to gardeners and landscapers – shoveling mulch, blowing leaves and scooping up trash.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Dixon alleged Reid attacked her again a few months later, forcibly kissing and groping her in the back of a private car with his driver present.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
19 Aug. 2025
-
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
-
The episode ends with a surreal, graphic deepfake scene of a totally nude Donald Trump stumbling around a desert.—
Nick Marx,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Inside the agency, Dudek, ill-prepared for leadership or for DOGE’s murky agenda, was stumbling through the chaos in part by creating some of his own.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Candidate quality is an uncomfortable topic for political parties.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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These gems combine the functionality of a bra with the comfort of a cozy piece of clothing, complete with bra shelves or cups to help support the girls without the need for an extra (and sometimes uncomfortable) wires and layers.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
11 Sep. 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
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Perhaps the most curious detail about the Wall Street Journal’s report is that Paramount Skydance would be looking to buy all of WBD and not just one half of the business.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
12 Sep. 2025
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Anogeissus bark extract helps restore a youthful-looking bounce, while nutrient-rich algae help your skin barrier feel strong and supported.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In my heavy-tripping state, the taste is glorious.—
R29 Team,
Refinery29,
1 Sep. 2025
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Surveillance video showed that Trigg accidentally fell into the pool after tripping and falling on an inflatable chair.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In another sign that Wisconsin maritime historians are in a golden period of discovery, a wooden schooner hidden beneath the depths of Lake Michigan for nearly 140 years has been found — with citizen scientists on board to share the excitement.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Alberta’s weather is also subject to far larger daily swings in temperature and harsher winters than Scotland, all factors that affect the flavors that are extracted from the wooden barrels.—
John Kell,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbling. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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