TUMBLING Synonyms: 165 Similar and Opposite Words

tumbling

verb

Definition of tumbling

present participle of tumble

as in falling

to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily the infant stood for a moment and then tumbled on the carpet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in plunging

to go to a lower level especially abruptly stock prices tumbled after the earnings report was released

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disrupting

to undo the proper order or arrangement of tumbled all the clothes in her closet as she furiously searched for her favorite pair of jeans

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in collapsing

to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure all we need is one strong wind, and that old barn is going to tumble

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tumbling But many homeowners locked in low mortgage rates when COVID-19 slammed the economy and sent borrowing costs tumbling; so they are protected if mortgage rates rise in the wake of a Fed raTte hike. — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 By the end of the 1978-79 season, Charlie’s Angels had dropped out of the top 10, tumbling from fourth to 12th. — Michael Callahan, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026 But the stock has underperformed the group, with shares tumbling this year even as peers reach new records. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026 There was a sense that only significant deals could stave off the double threat of the Austrian’s outbursts over transfers destabilising the team midway through the campaign and Palace tumbling into a relegation battle. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Ring Leaper was also able to clear a pair of tiny hurdles, even after slightly tumbling over the first one. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026 Their cheap convenience and ubiquity in restaurant service is a big reason any person with a food or food-adjacent job (including just about everybody who works at this magazine) has a collection of these tumbling around in their cabinets. — Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 The spacecraft started tumbling uncontrolled after launch, forcing NASA to abandon the mission. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 26 Aug. 2026 The camera panned to team members, in their signature red and white, tumbling through the audience and onto the stage. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumbling

Verb

Can consumers participate online without falling prey to scammers?

— Jon M. Huntsman, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026
With the 10-year treasury yield hovering around 5% and bond prices falling, investors who bought bond mutual funds or ETFs when yields were lower may be sitting on unrealized losses within their portfolio.

— Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of falling

Verb

Zendaya chose a glittering Prada gown bedecked in shimmering crystals with a plunging tulle neckline, along with Mikimoto jewelry, including lavish pearl-and-diamond earrings and two rings from the Petals collection.

— Meg Walters, InStyle, 19 Sep. 2026
ThredUp shares are down more than 60% over the same period, plunging after investors were disappointed with its revenue outlook announced last month.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of plunging

Verb

Burnam has a related lawsuit against O’Hare and the county in federal court as well as a request to dismiss the charges placed against him for disrupting a meeting and disorderly conduct.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Sep. 2026
Technical problems at a Federal Aviation Administration center in Philadelphia halted departures at New York-area airports Monday, disrupting hundreds of flights across the Northeast.

— Josh Funk, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of disrupting

Verb

Portland took an early lead, but the Pride showed fight and kept it close before collapsing in the last 20 minutes.

— Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
This halts the nuclear fusion process — which involves converting that hydrogen to helium — leading to the stars collapsing and shedding their outer layers to become a white dwarf with around the mass of the sun crammed into the width of Earth.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of collapsing

Verb

One of my favorite projects involved walking across the largest city in the Lower 48, only with the general framework of a plan, stumbling upon all kinds of interesting people, places and history.

— Mark Woods, Florida Times-Union, 20 Sep. 2026
Ian informs the sisters that Kylie isn’t merely stumbling into arcane rituals; someone is drawing her to the dark side.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of stumbling

Verb

The Democratic candidate for a Fort Worth state House seat is dipping out of the race less than a month before voting starts.

— Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Sep. 2026
Repeat with remaining rice and fillings, dipping your hands in salt water each time.

— Diana Yen, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of dipping

Verb

The space suddenly swells with agents, assistants, clients and others shuffling through for lunch.

— Oren Peleg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
Not much else changed in Class 5A, besides Azle and Arlington Seguin shuffling down two spots with Week 2 losses.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of shuffling

Verb

Euphoric players cavorting in disbelief, long-suffering fans crumpling to their knees in tears, commentators’ voices cracking at the drama of it all.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Moses Moody scored 23 points before crumpling to the floor with an apparently serious left knee injury late in overtime as the Golden State Warriors beat Dallas 137-131 on Monday night, extending the Mavericks' home losing streak to 12 games, their longest in 32 years.

— CBS News, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026