Synonyms of stumble

stumble 1 of 2

verb

ˈstəm-bəl 

1

as in to fall

to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily

the bride stumbled on the altar steps and landed smack in the arms of the minister

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fall
• slip
• trip
• tumble
• topple
• collapse
• plop
• slide
• crash
• skid
• plunge
• drop
• plummet
• crumple
• plunk
• precipitate
• wipe out
• slump (over)
• keel
• flump
• nose-dive
• free-fall

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stand (up)
• rise
• get up
• uprise

2

as in to struggle

to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

stumbled twice while she was reciting the "Gettysburg Address"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• struggle
• trudge
• blunder
• shuffle
• flounder
• limp
• fumble
• lurch
• jog
• bumble
• falter
• plod
• sway
• lumber
• stagger
• flog
• shamble
• reel
• totter
• wallow
• muddle
• welter
• teeter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• coast
• fly
• glide
• sail
• zoom
• zip
• kilt

3

as in to shuffle

to move heavily or clumsily

the tipsy revelers left the path and wearily stumbled through the tangled undergrowth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shuffle
• stomp
• lurch
• trudge
• shamble
• slough
• flounder
• haul
• barge
• drag
• weave
• stagger
• clump
• lump
• scuff
• scuffle
• tramp
• pound
• stamp
• galumph
• plod
• stump
• slog
• lumber
• flog
• tromp
• sway
• flop
• totter
• blunder
• waddle
• reel
• wobble
• careen
• teeter
• dodder

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• coast
• slide
• breeze
• glide
• hang
• drift
• whisk
• waltz
• float
• hover
• waft
• poise

4

as in to fumble

to make a mistake

that network announcer rarely stumbles when he's on the air

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fumble
• trip
• blunder
• err
• slip up
• nod
• flub
• mistake
• misunderstand
• lay an egg
• screw up
• drop the ball
• goof (up)
• louse up
• fluff
• foul up
• boob
• mess (up)
• botch
• bungle
• misjudge
• miscalculate
• mangle
• butcher
• murder
• misconceive
• misinterpret
• mishandle
• misconstrue
• muff
• bobble
• miscue
• foozle
• miscount
• misdeem
• misgauge

stumble

2 of 2

noun

1

as in mistake

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy

was his hurtful remark a regrettable stumble, or was it made with artful intention?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mistake
• blunder
• error
• fumble
• trip
• misstep
• slip
• flub
• brick
• miscue
• goof
• bobble
• inaccuracy
• fault
• gaff
• gaffe
• slipup
• lapse
• screwup
• boob
• clinker
• clanger
• fluff
• oversight
• boo-boo
• pratfall
• blooper
• bloomer
• misunderstanding
• howler
• snafu
• boner
• misreading
• misstatement
• miscalculation
• misinterpretation
• misjudgment
• misconstruction
• misconception
• misapprehension
• miscomprehension
• misdescription
• misimpression
• foul-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accuracy
• precision
• exactness
• correctness
• exactitude
• strictness
• perfection
• infallibility
• preciseness
• inerrancy

2

as in fall

the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily

has bones so brittle that a minor stumble could result in a serious break

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fall
• tumble
• spill
• slip
• trip
• slide
• dive
• plunge
• skid
• misstep
• pratfall
• header
• descent
• free-fall

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stumble

Verb

For Wilmot, the worst moment occurred when Sleepy stumbled to the edge of a huge chasm in the mine, turned and began to fall backward to his death. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

The women just appear to have gotten lost on their way to quadrille practice and stumbled into a Pina Bausch class. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Noun

Compounding those stumbles have been frequent defensive breakdowns. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

While the last-minute transaction helped the fund recover, the initial stumble led to a dwindling of assets. — Katherine Doherty, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing stumble

• stumble (on or onto)
• stumble (upon)