as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
disconsolate and exhausted after losing the match, the wrestler shambled toward the locker room
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Recent Examples of shamble
When photos hit the news of a sullen-looking Bodden shambling into court for the first time, Forrest’s friends and family were enraged.
—
Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2025
The manor’s ghouls and shambling zombies don’t feel any less threatening when contained within the tiny square portraits of a card.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The left horse just wanted to shamble along, while the right horse pulled with frantic jerks.
—Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
One nickname — Zombie tranq — reflects shambling from deep sedation.
—Pat Beall, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shamble
Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2025
The manor’s ghouls and shambling zombies don’t feel any less threatening when contained within the tiny square portraits of a card.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The left horse just wanted to shamble along, while the right horse pulled with frantic jerks.
—Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
One nickname — Zombie tranq — reflects shambling from deep sedation.
—Pat Beall, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shamble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shamble
Verb
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The downstairs staffs of the richest and noblest families start to shuffle around so chaotically that even Lady Whistledown takes notice of in her column.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
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The videos showed Chicago kissing and hugging a sable-furred puppy in the family's living room while Psalm shuffled around on his hands and knees trying to chase one of the dark-haired dogs around the room.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The same officer shoves Pretti in his chest, leading Pretti and the other protester to stumble backward.—
Hannah Fingerhut,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Dutcher and his staff might have stumbled on something.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Oscar-winning composer Daniel Blumberg was tasked with layering in claps, stomps and screams.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Making matters worse was that Seahawks defensive lineman Derick Hall stomped down on Dotson’s calf after the play, leading to Shelton shoving him in the chest and, ultimately, a one-game suspension for Hall.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shamble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shamble. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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