1
as in shuffling
to move heavily or clumsily
the elephant lumbered through the jungle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stumbling
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 loading
to place a weight or burden on
preparations that will lumber the expedition with unnecessary equipment and supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in shambling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in plodding
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lumbering
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
Leigh Yawkey Woodson’s parents created the tiny lumbering town of Hazelhurst, WI, about 60 miles due north of Wausau.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
In an era where teams are going all-in on big lumbering defenders, Montreal took a bet on a 5-foot-9, 160-pound defender.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
The area’s greatest economic driver after the end of the lumbering trade in the early 20th century has been and continues to be iron ore mining.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Snow White is, for better and (mostly) worse, a product of a corporation that has for years been lumbering after its idea of the Zeitgeist with all the agility of an aging colossus.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
And then there’s the giant Mama Creeper, the lumbering head of the pack who hulks over the protagonist Mickey (Robert Pattinson) when the two are face to face.
—Abigail Lee, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
During the Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong came to believe that the revolution was losing momentum because of the country’s lumbering bureaucracy.
—Charlie Tyson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
In the case of mammoths, the company argues that having mammoth-like creatures lumbering through the Arctic would compress the snow and grass that insulates the ground, slowing the rate of permafrost thaw and the release of carbon contained in this fragile ecosystem.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Some were fresh out of flight school, others flew lumbering flying boats or were ferry pilots for large bombers.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
Leigh Yawkey Woodson’s parents created the tiny lumbering town of Hazelhurst, WI, about 60 miles due north of Wausau.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
In an era where teams are going all-in on big lumbering defenders, Montreal took a bet on a 5-foot-9, 160-pound defender.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
The area’s greatest economic driver after the end of the lumbering trade in the early 20th century has been and continues to be iron ore mining.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Snow White is, for better and (mostly) worse, a product of a corporation that has for years been lumbering after its idea of the Zeitgeist with all the agility of an aging colossus.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
And then there’s the giant Mama Creeper, the lumbering head of the pack who hulks over the protagonist Mickey (Robert Pattinson) when the two are face to face.
—Abigail Lee, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
During the Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong came to believe that the revolution was losing momentum because of the country’s lumbering bureaucracy.
—Charlie Tyson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
In the case of mammoths, the company argues that having mammoth-like creatures lumbering through the Arctic would compress the snow and grass that insulates the ground, slowing the rate of permafrost thaw and the release of carbon contained in this fragile ecosystem.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lumbering
Verb
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The three actors were filming a lighthearted scene, shuffling excitedly between a hot sauna and cold plunge, when Reeves’ foot caught on some flooring.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The film essentially takes place entirely within an under-20-minute timeline, showing the same events from a shuffling deck of points of view.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His arrival home each night is announced by his sputtering motorcycle and his drunken stumbling up the stairs.—
Adam Solomons,
IndieWire,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Whew The last thing a team wants to see is its starting quarterback stumbling to the sideline four plays into the season.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
With the events, neighbors came to expect rumbling trucks delivering food, decorations and furniture.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Only a few women sang, so the chorus had a deep, rumbling sound.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of segregating different regions behind loading screens as with previous games, now your environment is a single seamless setting that feels more connected than ever.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
With Xavier Edwards and Agustin Ramirez on, Otto Lopez reached on a fielder’s choice, loading the bases with two out.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Occasionally, as in the obscurity of Legion’s later episodes or the plodding pace of some Fargo plots, this approach can verge on self-indulgence.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Cena’s chrome-domed antihero, Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante and and Danielle Brooks’ Adebayo stomping through spots of light.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
21 Aug. 2025
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No velvet rope, no fourth wall—just boot-stomping, beer-sign neon and crowd-absorption tech.—
Bob Bonniol,
Rolling Stone,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Even with Muchová so clearly struggling, Osaka faced some weird jeopardy down the stretch.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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However, even people who have these more 'substantial' degrees are struggling.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The scene’s amniotic shoppe Muzak is suddenly overridden by a deep, growling synth.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
23 Aug. 2025
-
The growling bear took several aggressive steps toward Buoy but then dumped the chase.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lumbering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lumbering. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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