STUMBLE (ON OR ONTO) Synonyms: 21 Similar Words

stumble (on or onto)

verb

Definition of stumble (on or onto)

as in to find

to come upon unexpectedly or by chance stumbled on some old family photos when she was cleaning out a drawer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumble (on or onto)

Verb

Soaker bathtubs, gas fireplaces, and sofas for curling up with a good book are found here, too.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Not only does Jeong-yo have an emotional connection to his music performance that Pi-o struggles to find himself, but Pi-o has injured his pinky in the leadup to the final performance, thanks to his obsessive practicing.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of find

Verb

Dennis and Rosa encounter all sorts of people, from feuding Take That tribute bands to Irish bachelorettes, comedians and bingo enthusiasts.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Last summer, 24 people were taken to the hospital after a Delta Air Lines flight encountered turbulence caused by a thunderstorm over Wyoming.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of encounter

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.

Browse Nearby Words

stumbled (upon)

stumble (on or onto)

stumbler

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Stumble (on or onto).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumble%20%28on%20or%20onto%29. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of stumble (on or onto)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

galore

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes