1
as in palooka
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Recent Examples of stumblebum
The stumblebum energy disarms us, which makes the gruesome cruelty of the kills that much more disturbing.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
As opposed to palookas and has-beens and tin cans and stumblebums, a player who got waived departed with his dignity intact.
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2018
Gerald Ford, for all his stumblebum image, was a Yale Law School graduate and veteran of legislative details.
—James Fallows, The Atlantic, 20 July 2017
The physicians lining up with Teirstein are not a bunch of stumblebums afraid of a few tests.
—Kurt Eichenwald, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2015
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
As opposed to palookas and has-beens and tin cans and stumblebums, a player who got waived departed with his dignity intact.
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2018
Gerald Ford, for all his stumblebum image, was a Yale Law School graduate and veteran of legislative details.
—James Fallows, The Atlantic, 20 July 2017
The physicians lining up with Teirstein are not a bunch of stumblebums afraid of a few tests.
—Kurt Eichenwald, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumblebum
Noun
-
Don’t be a palooka, start Nacua.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
12 Dec. 2024
-
One year after the Academy bafflingly ignored his work in Sideways, Giamatti finally scored his first Oscar nomination for his purely entertaining performance as boxing manager Joe Gould in Ron Howard’s proudly old-fashioned Depression-era palooka drama.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2024
Noun
-
Many weekend duffers buy their equipment at Dick’s Sporting Goods .—
Tom Rotunno,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Prior to 2023, when the streamer hosted its first live sports event—the Netflix Cup featured F1 drivers and pro duffers squaring off in a nine-hole match—the company brass were adamant about staying out of that lane.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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After Twins slugger Josh Bell hit a three-run homer off Way, Erceg emerged from the bullpen to try to save the inning.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2026
-
In his first three years in the majors — 237 games — the Rockies slugger stole a whopping three bases.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
The former boxer and actor reposted on his Instagram account on Monday, June 1, another user's post in praise of Wild Orchid, the 1989 romantic drama in which Rourke starred with Carré Otis.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
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Several notable Atlantans like boxer Evander Holyfield and a few members of the Shop Boyz grew up in the complex.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
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But Ford had stripped these two unpainted entries down to the chassis, like prizefighters shedding final pounds before weigh-in.—
Eric Moskowitz,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
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The explosive jazz‑rock pianist – known for redefining piano performance with the physicality of a prizefighter and the swagger of a rock guitarist – is set to turn the DIA’s auditorium into something closer to a sonic combustion chamber.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Antonoff of the early Bleachers albums was pop’s pint-sized pugilist, muscling his way to the front of the pack.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
30 May 2026
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In terms of skippers, our Frank Selee might rightly be considered more philosopher than a pugilist.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
These modern-day gladiators like to unwind by swapping Pikachus for Charmanders.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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Cussing in a gladiator sport like football shouldn’t draw much attention.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2026
Noun
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Soon my entire feed was pugs and poodles and beagles and portmanteau blends with absurd names like golden doodle and cavapoo.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Breeds with breathing issues — including bulldogs, pugs, boxers, Boston terriers and Persian cats — are also more susceptible to heat illness, state health officials said.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stumblebum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumblebum. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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