Synonyms of stumbling

stumbling 1 of 2

adjective

as in muttering

Related Words

• muttering
• faltering
• sputtering
• mumbling
• stuttering
• hesitant
• stammering
• halting
• maundering
• inarticulate
• unvocal
• voiceless
• ineloquent
• mute
• speechless
• tongueless
• tongue-tied

Dissimilar Words

• articulate
• eloquent
• fluent
• glib
• verbal
• facile
• voluble
• well-spoken
• vocal
• silver-tongued
• expressive
• outspoken
• smooth-tongued

stumbling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of stumble

1

as in falling

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

• falling
• tripping
• slipping
• tumbling
• toppling
• collapsing
• sliding
• crashing
• skidding
• plopping
• plunging
• dropping
• crumpling
• plunking
• plummeting
• precipitating
• slumping (over)
• wiping out
• keeling
• flumping
• free-falling
• nose-diving

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rising
• standing (up)
• uprising
• getting up

2

as in struggling

to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

stumbled twice while she was reciting the "Gettysburg Address"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• struggling
• blundering
• shuffling
• floundering
• trudging
• limping
• lurching
• fumbling
• bumbling
• plodding
• lumbering
• jogging
• shambling
• swaying
• faltering
• flogging
• reeling
• staggering
• tottering
• wallowing
• muddling
• teetering
• weltering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flying
• gliding
• coasting
• sailing
• zooming
• zipping
• kilting

3

as in shuffling

to move heavily or clumsily

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shuffling
• stomping
• lurching
• barging
• floundering
• shambling
• trudging
• pounding
• sloughing
• hauling
• dragging
• scuffling
• weaving
• stamping
• clumping
• staggering
• scuffing
• tramping
• plodding
• stumping
• lumping
• galumphing
• lumbering
• slogging
• swaying
• flopping
• flogging
• blundering
• tottering
• waddling
• tromping
• reeling
• wobbling
• careening
• teetering
• doddering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sliding
• gliding
• coasting
• floating
• waltzing
• drifting
• hanging
• whisking
• hovering
• breezing
• wafting
• poising

4

as in fumbling

to make a mistake

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fumbling
• tripping
• blundering
• nodding
• erring
• flubbing
• mistaking
• fluffing
• misunderstanding
• slipping up
• boobing
• dropping the ball
• laying an egg
• goofing (up)
• screwing up
• messing (up)
• fouling up
• lousing up
• bungling
• mangling
• botching
• misjudging
• murdering
• bobbling
• muffing
• butchering
• miscalculating
• misconceiving
• miscounting
• misinterpreting
• mishandling
• misconstruing
• miscuing
• foozling
• misdeeming
• misgauging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stumbling

Verb

Australia’s online platforms are stumbling at the very first step in implementing age checks for users, rendering a world-first teen social media ban ineffective, a study by a team that advised the government’s rollout of the curbs found. — Reuters, NBC news, 7 July 2026

Which is why Rhaenyra stumbling during her first days on the job really sucks as a Team Black truther. — The Editors, Vulture, 3 July 2026

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also fallen foul of Germany’s World Cup elimination by Paraguay, after stumbling into a social media debacle following a communications blunder. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Some viewers are surprised to learn that climate change is only one piece of the puzzle, while others have never seen a healthy coral ecosystem before stumbling across one of her videos. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Hotel security believed Zimmerman was intoxicated before his show during soundcheck, reportedly falling and stumbling onstage, throwing microphones, tossing cymbals, knocking over parts of his drum kit, swinging a guitar, and more. — Peter Burditt, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Gane finished off Pereira in the second round to win the title on Sunday after sending him stumbling with a right jab followed by a hammer fist. — ABC News, 17 June 2026

But stumbling into a town with a visual landscape that still shows Guedes' thumbprint was a delight. — Matt Ozug, NPR, 17 June 2026

Bryan’s stumbling responses, under questioning from the legendary defense lawyer Clarence Darrow, left him humiliated. — Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026

Phrases Containing stumbling

• stumbling block