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
ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
On March 22, Emily Holman posted a TikTok video about her and her 18-year-old sister, Martha, stumbling upon a jean jacket that was hand-painted and gifted to a friend for Christmas.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Because if not for that potential off-ramp of failing in the play-in and stumbling into the lottery, then the possibility of even more of this — a best-of-seven opening-round playoff series against an opponent that Wednesday night completed a 4-0 regular-season sweep.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Occasionally, King’s assistants, a pair of bulky guys with law-enforcement backgrounds, offered the stumbling line a corrective shove.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
The Ducks started their trip up five points on Connor McDavid and company, but held just a three-point edge after stumbling 4-2 on Saturday.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
There was a lot of stumbling with the lines.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 27 Mar. 2026
Shopping on Rue La La feels a lot like stumbling across a secret sale, with some of the very best deals on designer goods, including swoon-worthy handbags.
—Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 20 Mar. 2026
The bubble was the softest in recent memory, with one team after another stumbling late in the season.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
Garrett Mitchell lined a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the stumbling Boston Red Sox 8-6 on Monday night, sending them to their eighth loss in nine games.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
On March 22, Emily Holman posted a TikTok video about her and her 18-year-old sister, Martha, stumbling upon a jean jacket that was hand-painted and gifted to a friend for Christmas.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Because if not for that potential off-ramp of failing in the play-in and stumbling into the lottery, then the possibility of even more of this — a best-of-seven opening-round playoff series against an opponent that Wednesday night completed a 4-0 regular-season sweep.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Occasionally, King’s assistants, a pair of bulky guys with law-enforcement backgrounds, offered the stumbling line a corrective shove.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
The Ducks started their trip up five points on Connor McDavid and company, but held just a three-point edge after stumbling 4-2 on Saturday.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
There was a lot of stumbling with the lines.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 27 Mar. 2026
Shopping on Rue La La feels a lot like stumbling across a secret sale, with some of the very best deals on designer goods, including swoon-worthy handbags.
—Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 20 Mar. 2026
The bubble was the softest in recent memory, with one team after another stumbling late in the season.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling
Verb
-
That took share from price as sellers’ top concern, falling from nearly half of agents ranking it first to 39%.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Dave Walton, a corn, soybean, and hay farmer in Iowa and vice president of the American Soybean Association, said in March that some of his neighbors didn’t have cash on hand last fall to buy fertilizer and were struggling to budget for fertilizer due to high prices.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
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But even a young woman struggling with the patriarchal conundrum of cool-girl syndrome (to be independent and accepted) might reveal more of a snappish turn of mind than Grace does.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This is where the city stages its daily open-air show — street artists sketching portraits, fortune-tellers shuffling cards and musicians playing for appreciative crowds.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
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Its elegant twill pattern is both durable for rigorous travel and premium-looking for serving looks at the airport, while its interior has an expandable compartment, one mesh pocket, and elastic tie-down straps to keep your belongings from shuffling around.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With the title in their grasp, the Ducks have greased up their fingers, fumbling into a four-game winless slump.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Last season’s Detroit Tigers endured the worst divisional collapse in history, fumbling an AL Central lead that reached 15 1/2 games in July.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The faltering fiction offered here certainly doesn’t justify 10 episodes, the runtimes of which range from about 35 minutes to nearly an hour.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Apr. 2026
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Draghi’s report highlights several reasons why Europe’s competitiveness is faltering.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Johnston was whistled for tripping Matt Boldy in the final minute of the first, and the Wild power play needed just seconds to give them their first lead.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
10 Apr. 2026
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While tripping with the foot is not allowed, an ankle tap, which is performed with the hand, is considered a tackle and is permissible.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Verizon never would have gotten the chance to buy Yahoo’s online operations if not for the company’s perpetual blundering under seven different CEOs in 16 years.—
Michael Liedtke,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Verizon never would have gotten the chance to buy Yahoo’s online operations if not for the company’s perpetual blundering under seven different CEOs in 16 years.—
Michael Liedtke,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That’s the sound of clogs slowly stomping back into the spotlight.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
5 Apr. 2026
-
For pretty much every gamer alive today, those first few notes induce an almost Pavlovian response — sparking an urge to grab a controller on your lap that isn’t actually there and bringing to mind comfortable, warm memories of stomping Goombas and riding Yoshi on a quest to save Princess Peach.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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