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
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
as in uncomfortable
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of fumbling
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
Robinson went down on a play where there was a scramble for a loose ball as linebacker Jordyn Brooks forced a fumble on Detroit running back David Montgomery.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2025
David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
Linebacker Grant Stuard fumbled the opening kickoff return, Kyle Allen threw two interceptions — one nearly returned for a touchdown — and Jakobie Keeney-James muffed a punt deep in Detroit territory.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumbling
Verb
Yet, that fumble was the most costly mistake any receiver made all day.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
Robinson went down on a play where there was a scramble for a loose ball as linebacker Jordyn Brooks forced a fumble on Detroit running back David Montgomery.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions and running back Alexander Mattison fumbled multiple times.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
Linebacker Grant Stuard fumbled the opening kickoff return, Kyle Allen threw two interceptions — one nearly returned for a touchdown — and Jakobie Keeney-James muffed a punt deep in Detroit territory.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumbling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbling
Noun
-
What’s the most common mistake people make when trying to recreate the Honey Deuce at home?—
Emily Cappiello,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
My experience has been that my mistakes led to the best things in my life.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Removing 55 books the governor’s political party is uncomfortable with is not ethical or legal.—
Robert Kesten,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Less Strain: Reaching over your child’s car seat can be uncomfortable and awkward.—
Laura Lu,
Parents,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Target’s brief foray into Canada is still considered one of the biggest foreign blunders by a major US retailer.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
20 Aug. 2025
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This instance, and several other AI blunders, have led to companies such as McDonald's and Klarna rolling back on AI policies.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This combination of a plush velvet material mixed with the wooden base allows the bench to function in a variety of homes, including those with modern, rustic, or French country styles.—
Rachel Trujillo,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
No diffusers here–the tequila is made by cooking agave in ovens, fermenting in wooden vats, and distilling on copper pot stills, all without the use of additives.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
When applied across a $500 million capital investment in net new builds—where UPS systems might account for only a small portion—the effect is at less than 1%, effectively a rounding error in the overall budget.—
Ryan Mallory,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Christian Kuntz for making a bunch of errors at the hot corner.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Golden State Valkyries Last: 9 | Upcoming: CHI (8/15), ATL (8/17), PHX (8/19), PHX (8/22) After a bit of a stumble, the Valkyries is flying high lately.—
Devin Robertson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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The ability to respond quickly, with coordination and confidence, is what separates a stumble from a scandal.—
Heather Wishart-Smith,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Pedrad made history as the first Iranian American castmember on Saturday Night Live, before bending age and gender to play a gawky 14-year-old Persian American boy in the coming-of-age sitcom Chad.—
Dan Bilefsky,
HollywoodReporter,
25 July 2025
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Agnes has a gawky, floppy-haired beauty, a gently appraising stare, quizzically arching eyebrows, and a tendency to listen with her mouth half open, as if in anticipation of a punch line that will take her, and us, by surprise.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
On the other, the quick and almost casual way in which Kirsh runs through what he’s figured out is emblematic of an ungainly episode that seems in a rush to get through a lot of things, especially where the Xenomorph is concerned.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
19 Aug. 2025
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What passes for governance is thus an ungainly patchwork of formal and informal institutions.—
Stewart Patrick,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Dec. 2013
Cite this Entry
“Fumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbling. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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