as in muttering
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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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggling
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 shuffling
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 fumbling
to make a mistake
that network announcer rarely stumbles when he's on the air
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stumbling
Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 1 June 2026
The video then shows Henderson stumbling towards a wall in the area, where someone can be seen calling for help.
—Brittney Ermon, CBS News, 31 May 2026
After stumbling upon the Backrooms that first night, Clark returns to them again and again, like a man obsessed.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 May 2026
There is no coming back, and these Giants look plenty capable of slipping, stumbling or falling that low.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
New Jersey had won only one playoff series the previous four seasons and were stumbling late in 2000 when Lamoriello decided a change was needed.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Coming shortly after Thierno Barry had put them 3-1 up, both Tarkowski and Keane switched off from kick-off to hand a stumbling City a lifeline.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Villatoro — who previously held high-level positions at Mattel and Smashbox Cosmetics — remembered stumbling upon the brand at Sephora’s annual beauty event Sephoria long before she was brought on.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 22 May 2026
Arriving at Badlands National Park feels like stumbling upon Mars.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
Verb
This includes people who do not know each other and who did not coordinate with one another to gather all somehow separately, hearing about Manhattanhenge (or simply stumbling across the crowd) and enjoying the view together.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 1 June 2026
The video then shows Henderson stumbling towards a wall in the area, where someone can be seen calling for help.
—Brittney Ermon, CBS News, 31 May 2026
After stumbling upon the Backrooms that first night, Clark returns to them again and again, like a man obsessed.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 May 2026
There is no coming back, and these Giants look plenty capable of slipping, stumbling or falling that low.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
New Jersey had won only one playoff series the previous four seasons and were stumbling late in 2000 when Lamoriello decided a change was needed.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Coming shortly after Thierno Barry had put them 3-1 up, both Tarkowski and Keane switched off from kick-off to hand a stumbling City a lifeline.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Villatoro — who previously held high-level positions at Mattel and Smashbox Cosmetics — remembered stumbling upon the brand at Sephora’s annual beauty event Sephoria long before she was brought on.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 22 May 2026
Arriving at Badlands National Park feels like stumbling upon Mars.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling
Verb
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Like India, Indonesia has been wrestling with a falling currency, and on May 20, the country's central bank raised its policy interest rates by a larger-than-expected 50 basis points.—
Sri Jegarajah,Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
-
Anyone who likes keeping the balcony doors open at night and falling asleep to the sound of crashing waves should enjoy the Ocean Rooms.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
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After more than five innings of the Bulldogs trailing Liberty by one, struggling to get anything going, the Georgia third baseman crushed a two-run home run to left field.—
Sarah Spencer,
AJC.com,
1 June 2026
-
Hezbollah's use of hard-to-detect fiber optic drones has been deadly for the Israeli military, which is struggling to respond.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Having gone into hiding, Walt ultimately manages to make some things right before shuffling off the mortal coil.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
-
The move comes one year after the team promoted Saleh to general manager after another round of shuffling in its front office.—
Lauren Williams,
AJC.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Like, for example, calling a risky trick play in South Bend that resulted in wide receiver Makai Lemon fumbling on first-and-10 from the Notre Dame 37-yard line down three points in the fourth quarter.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
-
The whole series comes down to the Cavs fumbling away Game 1.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
Adjective
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But now, as the public understands the consequences of a faltering democracy, more people are talking about it, Drutman said.—
Mary Ellen Klas,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
-
The thing is, this presumption appears to be faltering.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The broadest of comedies, the film’s often puerile humor is driven by an endless stream of male bungling, blundering and whining, only to be kicked up a notch by pratfalls of nearly every variety, from getting bucked off a galloping horse to tripping into a pile of trash.—
Natalia Winkelman,
Variety,
27 May 2026
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Just the usual catching a skate blade or tripping over a tree root.—
Risa Jampel,
STAT,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The broadest of comedies, the film’s often puerile humor is driven by an endless stream of male bungling, blundering and whining, only to be kicked up a notch by pratfalls of nearly every variety, from getting bucked off a galloping horse to tripping into a pile of trash.—
Natalia Winkelman,
Variety,
27 May 2026
-
Right now, the source of the disruption in the airline industry is the President’s blundering rather than a financial meltdown that originated on Wall Street.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Shouting, slamming doors and feet stomping are some of the noises that concern many home bakers anxiously awaiting a baking cake.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
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As anyone who's come within a hundred miles of the city will tell you, Nashville is a live-music mecca, overflowing with boot-stomping, fiddle-playing entertainment.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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