1
as in fell
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggled
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
stumbled twice while she was reciting the "Gettysburg Address"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shuffled
to move heavily or clumsily
the tipsy revelers left the path and wearily stumbled through the tangled undergrowth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in fumbled
to make a mistake
that network announcer rarely stumbles when he's on the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of stumbled
Except, of course, for that old dinosaur that somehow stumbled into a misplaced DeLorean, fired up the flux capacitor, and time travelled from the stone ages straight to the Uli beach.
—
Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
Determined to keep searching, Hollie eventually stumbled on a TLC episode featuring a boy named Gio, who also had Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Just ask teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs and others that have stumbled out of the gates.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Nix remained underwater in September as Denver stumbled clumsily into the national spotlight with one win.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
My Jets-Buccaneers stack is where my story stumbled.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
The teams have stumbled for different reasons.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025
While another woman stumbled on a leather handbag only to find something incredible inside—a ring with an 18k hallmark and beautiful gemstone.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
One of them had stumbled upon Sleep Token at a music festival a few years ago and had been hooked on the band’s teachings ever since, while the other had flown to New York from rural Texas just to be at the evening’s show.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2025
Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
Determined to keep searching, Hollie eventually stumbled on a TLC episode featuring a boy named Gio, who also had Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Just ask teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs and others that have stumbled out of the gates.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Nix remained underwater in September as Denver stumbled clumsily into the national spotlight with one win.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
My Jets-Buccaneers stack is where my story stumbled.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
The teams have stumbled for different reasons.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025
While another woman stumbled on a leather handbag only to find something incredible inside—a ring with an 18k hallmark and beautiful gemstone.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
One of them had stumbled upon Sleep Token at a music festival a few years ago and had been hooked on the band’s teachings ever since, while the other had flown to New York from rural Texas just to be at the evening’s show.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbled
Verb
-
Onscreen, a bridezilla sent an equivalent table soaring through a banquet hall, felling at least one chandelier.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
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They’re supposed to do fine in extreme heat and snow, though residents of other cities have had to rescue them when they’ve been felled by weather.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Both teams are currently ranked in the top 10, and as is well-documented, Franklin has struggled in such games.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The food bank has struggled to keep up with demand following the cuts and a decrease in private donations.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And then, after Nakashima sent a first serve back into the middle with good depth, slightly tucking the Spaniard up, Alcaraz shuffled backward and detonated an inside-in forehand to win the match.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
But what that led to, advocates and attorneys say, is that children in the state’s care continued to be in night to night placements and shuffled from home to home.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Last year, Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor celebrated prematurely and fumbled the ball through the back of the end zone on what was going to be a 41-yard TD run.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Slightly concerning given that Mims has already fumbled one punt this season.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Georges Mikautadze tripped before getting back on his feet to score Villarreal’s 18th-minute opener from a Nicolas Pepe assist.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In the Cowboys’ lone OT possession, inside the Packers’ 5-yard line, Dak was feeling some pressure, and running when he was barely tripped from behind by his old teammate to return to the original line of scrimmage.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By Dom Luszczyszyn, Sean Gentille and Shayna Goldman Coming into last season, the Washington Capitals had taken major steps to improve a roster that, by plenty of measures, had fluked its way into the postseason and summarily gotten stomped in the first round.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
When the band quickly left before the encore, the elated, yet sweaty, audience clapped their hands and stomped their feet without virtually anyone leaving the building.—
Josh Chesler,
AZCentral.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For a date night out, Sánchez then slipped into a daring crimson number by Vivienne Westwood, the design featured a low neckline and and ruching that added an extra leggy element to the look.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
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Over the last 40-plus decades, Springsteen has slipped all 10 of its songs into setlists, whether on solo tours and with the E Street Band.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Saturday’s start could’ve tumbled into another painful loss.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Visits to Cracker Barrel tumbled.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbled. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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