as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
played the entire piano piece without a single fumble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to blow
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 to grope
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 to stumble
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of fumble
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2025
Miller tied for the Terps team lead with three interceptions in 2024 and had 39 tackles (26 solo), three tackles for a loss, five passes defended and a fumble recovery.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2025
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Later in the first period, Theodore fumbled the puck into the skates of his teammate, Hertl, on their way out of the defensive zone, and Foligno added to Minnesota’s lead.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Noun
The 6-5, 321-pound Biggers had 104 tackles, including 10 for loss, two sacks and two fumble recoveries in 47 games over four seasons for the Yellow Jackets.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2025
Miller tied for the Terps team lead with three interceptions in 2024 and had 39 tackles (26 solo), three tackles for a loss, five passes defended and a fumble recovery.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
In a brief authored by Christopher S. Yates and other attorneys from Latham & Watkins and Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, NASCAR contends that U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell fumbled the law in granting preliminary injunctions to the two teams last December.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Later in the first period, Theodore fumbled the puck into the skates of his teammate, Hertl, on their way out of the defensive zone, and Foligno added to Minnesota’s lead.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble
Noun
-
Justice Department lawyers contend FBI agents acted in good faith despite the mistake and shouldn't be second-guessed by the courts.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Maybe everything that follows is a cascade of mistakes stemming from this decision.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Because her life does force you to deal with uncomfortable truths about the way this country once worked, and the way certain members of our community did get excluded.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
30 Apr. 2025
-
The conversation had turned uncomfortable, leaving a deal that was at the finish line suddenly dead.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Be equipped to answer this when delivering bad news by understanding the root cause of the blunder.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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All the evidence points to various blunders, assumptions, policies, choices and unlucky circumstances that led to the tragedy.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, 48 to 50 minutes, loosely covering with aluminum foil as needed to prevent overbrowning.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
1 May 2025
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Built in 1950 for industrialist Leo Harvey, the midcentury marvel is one of Lautner’s early masterpieces—featuring a circular wooden courtyard, sweeping stone floors, and floor-to-ceiling glass that blurs the lines between indoors and out.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The law only allows schools to recognize changes made to birth certificates that were made to correct a clerical error.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
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Last month, the Campaign Finance Board denied Cuomo’s request for nearly $3 million in public matching funds due to paperwork errors.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
The aftermath will determine if this is a brief stumble for dollar dominance or evidence of a seismic shift in the global financial order.—
Erika Page,
Christian Science Monitor,
16 Apr. 2025
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Fortunately for the Knicks, Indiana’s stumble ensures their No. 3 seeding remains safe.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Brittany Murphy, who co-starred as gawky new kid Tai, sadly passed away in 2009.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
17 Apr. 2025
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A far cry from the gawky and boyish Norman Bates, B.Z. is a floppy-haired, closeted Hollywood player slowly dissolving in his own nihilism.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
That dispute was patched over by an ungainly agreement, negotiated between the European Commission and the U.S. government.—
Henry Farrell,
Foreign Affairs,
3 Apr. 2025
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Examples imported from 1975 through 1985 had rather ungainly impact bumpers, so early, chrome-bumper cars are aesthetically more desirable.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumble. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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