lumbers

verb

present tense third-person singular of lumber
1
as in shuffles
to move heavily or clumsily the elephant lumbered through the jungle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stumbles
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
as in rumbles
to make a low heavy rolling sound the horse-drawn wagon lumbered along the trail

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in loads
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lumbers The big upgrade here is that ER 2 can process live video feeds from the robot’s cameras, allowing the system to track progress as the robot lumbers from one step to the next. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lumbers
  1. shuffles
  2. stumbles
  3. rumbles
  4. loads
  5. stomps
  6. struggles
  7. growls
  8. fills
Verb
  • My brother looks at the floor, mumbles something, and then shuffles away from the table.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The line shuffles forward quickly, and my heart knots in my chest as Heartfillers are dosed to each person up ahead.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of shuffles
Verb
  • But here, too, Wladyka stumbles, opting for a comforting but pat ending about how dance and art enliven so many lives.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Early in the book, there’s a disturbing scene in which Cathy’s mother stumbles upon a half naked 10-year-old Cathy lying on the floor beneath two teenage boys.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of stumbles
Verb
  • Boone rumbles into the end zone for the first time in a 5-yard run by Max Edmunds.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The accusation rumbles, then explodes locally, drawing in authorities and prompting an investigation.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of rumbles
Verb
  • Don’t assume that because your homepage loads quickly on office Wi-Fi, every patient has the same experience.
    — Chris Zelig, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The main sleeper pod packs down small to store easily at home, then loads neatly into small and midsize vans only to burst out the tailgate at camp and create an instant bedroom.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of loads
Verb
  • Godzilla Minus Zero stomps into theaters in Japan on November 3 and in North America on November 6.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Joined by his crew, Shakur stomps him out before the stunned gamblers and boxing fans.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of stomps
Verb
  • The nation's flood insurance program struggles to balance affordability, flood protection and cost to taxpayers, leaving millions vulnerable at a time when climate change is driving flood risk higher.
    — MICHAEL PHILLIS, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Next up was Christian Pulisic, dubbed Captain America, who is arguably a bit better but struggles with consistency.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of struggles
Verb
  • Griffith growls Griffith could be in position to win its first Greater South Shore Conference title since 2018.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
  • Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of growls
Verb
  • An unremarkable meal, or a conversation that fills 10 spare minutes rarely feels consequential on its own.
    — Justin Vaughn, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026
  • In this sense, the amount of stuff that fills a box is the same as the amount of paint that covers it.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of fills

Browse Nearby Words

lumbermen
lumbers
luminance
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lumbers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lumbers. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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