1
as in shuffled
to move heavily or clumsily
the elephant lumbered through the jungle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stumbled
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
the novel's plot lumbers to its predictable conclusion after 500 long pages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in loaded
to place a weight or burden on
preparations that will lumber the expedition with unnecessary equipment and supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lumbered
Many experts had thought sharks didn’t exist in the frigid waters of Antarctica before this sleeper shark lumbered warily and briefly into the spotlight of a video camera, researcher Alan Jamieson said this week.
—
CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
Many experts had thought sharks didn't exist in the frigid waters of Antarctica before this sleeper shark lumbered warily and briefly into the spotlight of a video camera, researcher Alan Jamieson said this week.
—CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Many experts had thought sharks didn’t exist in the frigid waters of Antarctica before this sleeper shark lumbered warily and briefly into the spotlight of a video camera, researcher Alan Jamieson said this week.
—ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Robinson said he was also cut off from food stamps in November as the longest government shutdown in history lumbered on.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
The raccoon took the hint, shimmied down the rope and lumbered onto a ladder before making a less-than-graceful landing on the porch below.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
Many experts had thought sharks didn't exist in the frigid waters of Antarctica before this sleeper shark lumbered warily and briefly into the spotlight of a video camera, researcher Alan Jamieson said this week.
—CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Many experts had thought sharks didn’t exist in the frigid waters of Antarctica before this sleeper shark lumbered warily and briefly into the spotlight of a video camera, researcher Alan Jamieson said this week.
—ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Robinson said he was also cut off from food stamps in November as the longest government shutdown in history lumbered on.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
The raccoon took the hint, shimmied down the rope and lumbered onto a ladder before making a less-than-graceful landing on the porch below.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lumbered
Verb
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Conservation and breeding efforts shuffled three giraffes around Colorado zoos this year — one returning home to Denver after months away, another joining the Denver herd and a third finding a new home in Colorado Springs, according to zoo officials.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
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Carlos Mendoza isn’t to blame, nor are this group of players, who are being shuffled around the field like Yahtzee dice.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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With Colorado on the power play, the Avs icon lost the puck near the Minnesota blue line and stumbled while retreating.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
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But Musk stumbled at least seven times in ways that possibly put his chances at winning in jeopardy.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The anti-vaccine rhetoric, and the efforts to revise laws and regulations, rumbled along at the state health department, and in the legislature.—
Kerry Sheridan,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
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Minutes later, some attendees reported hearing what sounded like gunshots and the room rumbled as everyone rushed to hide under tables.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Snell loaded the bases three batters into the game and gave up a run in the first inning.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
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The analytics group says that most Middle East cargoes loaded before the war have now been discharged, meaning the inventory drawdown will accelerate and local refining will slow.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Guest shark Rashaun Williams strapped on his court shoes, wiped them on their mini mat and stomped onto their court.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
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Dedicating that much shelf space to the New York Yankees, as your organization gets stomped into the ground by them, at home?—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The more epistemically rigorous elements in the coalition have struggled to make common cause with these lower-information voters.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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Both struggled with foul trouble, and the Knicks outscored Philly 56-30 in the paint, yet the Sixers were still a few baskets away from evening the best-of-seven series.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Mira growled into her watch, excitedly.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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The wereboar growled next to Black Pudding, a hulking vicious monster, both focused on ripping Puck and Cordelia to shreds.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Only 18 women have saddled an entrant.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
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But in adapting the namesake short story by Manuel Gonzales into a 10-hour season of television, creators Jennifer Ames and Steve Turner have saddled this core conflict with unnecessary and burdensome extensions.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lumbered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lumbered. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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