Synonyms of stumping

stumping

verb

present participle of stump

1

as in shuffling

to move heavily or clumsily

the seemingly endless parade finally ended, and the drummers and tuba players stumped wearily to their buses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in daring

to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat

when my grandfather was a kid, he and his friends would stump one another to dive into the local swimming hole

Synonyms & Similar Words

• daring
• challenging
• confronting
• defying
• braving
• breasting
• facing
• bearding
• brazening
• outbraving
• outfacing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stumping

Australia’s 2024 stinky ‘black balls’ incident This isn’t the first time mysterious balls were found on Australian beaches, stumping experts and locals alike. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Frenzel has been stumping in favor of data center buildup and in April said that if done correctly, such centers could help bring down the cost of electricity for its customers. — Steve Gelsi, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026

What this entailed was gaining as much reliable information about the Soviet military as possible while stumping for an open skies policy that would allow overflights by both sides of the other's territory to prevent accidental war. — David Szondy march 29, New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026

But one skin dilemma that’s stumping even me is why everyone thinks their skin looks so dull right now. — Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 20 Jan. 2026

After successfully stumping Consuelos with a bit of trivia of her own, a contestant named Rachel was then tasked with answering a question about recent Live guest and Virgin River actress Alexandra Breckenridge. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025

Others like Taylor Swift, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jane Fonda offered simple endorsements without stumping for the vice president. — Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025

Elsewhere, Donald Washberg is stumping dressed like Will Rogers at the Ziegfeld Follies. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025

With a national fundraising blitz in full swing and Election Day just around the corner, Democrats stumping for Proposition 50 have far out-raised and out-spent their opponents — even though a California megadonor with Republican ties single-handedly spent $30 million to defeat it. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025