1
as in shambling
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in plodding
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in shuffling
to move heavily or clumsily
the elephant lumbered through the jungle
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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
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3
4
as in loading
to place a weight or burden on
preparations that will lumber the expedition with unnecessary equipment and supplies
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of lumbering
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Any second, surely, Dad’s tan Mercedes would glide into view and start its rumbling, lumbering ascent up the gravel drive.
—Kate Crane, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Its creators, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, Frankensteined the series by stitching together two moribund TV genres—the mockumentary sitcom and the prank show—to construct something new, if still lumbering.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Your littlest charges will marvel at the size of the camels, tortoises and giraffes lumbering about the zoo’s meandering paths, and then eagerly pet goats and sheep in the farmyard.
—Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
The only real midrange comes from what sounds like inclement weather or the occasional distant, lumbering percussion.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
The North Atlantic right whale, Latin name Eubalaena glacialis, is one of three species of the lumbering giants.
—Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 30 Jan. 2026
During the announcement, a lumbering Frankenstein’s Monster appeared on the set with Thompson and Mitchell.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
So, the lumbering maw that is our leader is likely to gobble it up.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
Mando uses a bomb to trip one of the lumbering mechs, sending it crashing down the mountain, then jetpacks up to the hatch of another.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Any second, surely, Dad’s tan Mercedes would glide into view and start its rumbling, lumbering ascent up the gravel drive.
—Kate Crane, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Its creators, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, Frankensteined the series by stitching together two moribund TV genres—the mockumentary sitcom and the prank show—to construct something new, if still lumbering.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Your littlest charges will marvel at the size of the camels, tortoises and giraffes lumbering about the zoo’s meandering paths, and then eagerly pet goats and sheep in the farmyard.
—Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
The only real midrange comes from what sounds like inclement weather or the occasional distant, lumbering percussion.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
The North Atlantic right whale, Latin name Eubalaena glacialis, is one of three species of the lumbering giants.
—Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 30 Jan. 2026
During the announcement, a lumbering Frankenstein’s Monster appeared on the set with Thompson and Mitchell.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
So, the lumbering maw that is our leader is likely to gobble it up.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lumbering
Adjective
-
With almost no plan, Sonny makes a shambling attempt at an armed robbery, only to end up trapped in the bank with the manager and five female tellers as his hostages.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
-
One rarely gains a sense of what people look like (beyond the son’s bulky physique and shambling movements, in which the mother ‘caught a flash of her brother’).—
Dan Sheehan,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Neither is known for having much of an off-the-dribble game that could hurt the plodding Porzingis or Horford.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
His jogging gait is a bit plodding.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There was major line shuffling overall by Cooper on this night, not just Kucherov, but tweaks to three lines, which ended up looking a little different than what was shown in pregame warmup.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
YoshimiO, sharing fellow ’90s icon Flea’s recent interest in the instrument, turns in a credible trumpet line during the track’s shuffling, exuberant second half.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The title track, with its glassy melody and woozy, almost stumbling groove, deploys wholesome, end-of-the-night, comedown energy not unlike Bicep’s most beloved tracks.—
Reid BG,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Pack comfortable shoes and enjoy stumbling upon the secrets of the city.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Apple works at this vertiginous juncture where Emily Dickinson goes rumbling into Etta James and, lately, Beyoncé; where Nico solves puzzles with Randy Newman, Kurt Weill, Nina Simone and the Beatles.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Universal made good use of the rumbling theater seats during action sequences even if the 180-degree wraparound nature of the theater was underutilized.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Edgar Quero got hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Andrew Benintendi.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
But there’s also an imbalance created with loading up that Cirelli line, which is that Point’s unit is far less dangerous.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The 2 ¼-inch wedge heel, combined with the ½-inch platform, gives you just enough height to look dressed up without feeling wobbly or unstable.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
20 Apr. 2026
-
My figures have two noses, two pairs of wobbly lips and lopsided torsos that often lean precariously to one side.—
Gabe Montesanti,
PEOPLE,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But the point stands that the means to make a movie—once cumbersome and expensive—now fits in the palm of your hand.—
Dennis Lim,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Unfortunately, clear aquarium-style cages can be heavy and cumbersome to move.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lumbering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lumbering. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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