1
as in shuffling
to move heavily or clumsily
the elephant lumbered through the jungle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lumbering
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Almost every song is a lumbering beast so thoroughly composed of bits and pieces from the very best of the entire British popular music tradition as to make each feel inevitable, and the intensity doesn’t let up much until the final track.
—Jesse Adams, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Gyms and exercise equipment companies don’t promote their locations and equipment with flabby, lumbering people, rather their ads show fit, upright, energetic individuals.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
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
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
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
Adjective
The two heroes fight what appears to be a Rancor-like lizard monster in Rotta the Hutt’s arena and bring down a lumbering AT-AT, which slowly falls down a mountainside in epic fashion.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Almost every song is a lumbering beast so thoroughly composed of bits and pieces from the very best of the entire British popular music tradition as to make each feel inevitable, and the intensity doesn’t let up much until the final track.
—Jesse Adams, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Gyms and exercise equipment companies don’t promote their locations and equipment with flabby, lumbering people, rather their ads show fit, upright, energetic individuals.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lumbering
Verb
-
To him, the equipment staff shuffling pieces around on the field during practice is just as important as the head coach standing by.—
Christopher Kamrani,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
During the 2024 rampage, two suspects wearing masks were captured on surveillance video shuffling up a driveway and firing weapons towards the home.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ross and the unit's six other horses are responsible for helping the police handle crowd control, whether its amid the thousands stumbling through Lower Broadway or the rush of 65,000 fans entering or leaving Nissan Stadium for a Titans game.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
In other words, Steve is a lot to play, and the Oscar-winner throws himself into every forlorn expression, every kindly mentoring session, every manic bit of rushing to and fro as chaos reigns around him, every stumbling step toward self-medicating into oblivion.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Thousands stomped in the bleachers, creating rumbling waves of adoration.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Apple’s promotional video for the iPhone 17 Pro is super loud and rumbling the floor.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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He was later seen loading his boat onto a trailer at a boat ramp, and officers working with Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputies found his vehicle and trailer outside a home, police said.—
Don Sweeney,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
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The three involved in the theft were seen carrying the ducks out in two separate trips and loading them into a truck before dropping them off at a friend's house.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Once the beyond-the-grave comeuppance arrives, this short is just standard shambling ghouls and raining blood.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The shambling Cliff and the spiky Didi make for an odd couple.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Maura is marvelous stomping around the apartment in a cold fury and refusing to speak to Clara, who proceeds regardless with broker negotiations and brings in antiques dealer Abslam (Ahmed Boulane) to buy up the contents.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
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The Norwegian stomping clear of a defence caught too high up the pitch.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Families are struggling with rising costs while City Hall wastes millions.—
Miami Herald Staff,
Miami Herald,
8 Oct. 2025
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Through scholarships and events, the organization aims to support and encourage people struggling with illness.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lumbering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lumbering. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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