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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in plunging

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

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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

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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

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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 The pickup appeared to veer off the roadway before tumbling down the mountainside and eventually coming to rest at the bottom of the cliff, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026 Something, oh, like a roly-poly, 73-year-old manager tumbling ass over teakettle, as the old-timers say, when a bat thrown by Vladimir Guerrero clipped his left hip. — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 13 July 2026 The drug, called Wainua, was a core part of AstraZeneca’s plans to reach $80 billion in annual sales, and the news sent both companies’ stocks tumbling. — Jason Mast, STAT, 9 July 2026 Sexting in Suburbia probably has good intentions, but a film with such a dark plot as this probably shouldn’t include a scene in which a suicidal student opens up her locker to find a mountain of condoms tumbling out. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026 The chain wanted to avoid tumbling into bankruptcy like Red Lobster, Hooters, TGI Fridays and so many other family dining chains. — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 Earlier this week, Sandy took an unexpected fledge after losing her balance and tumbling down the nest tree. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 On July 9, 2025, people at Camp Wildcraft reported hearing a loud crack before the massive branch, estimated to weigh several hundred pounds, came tumbling down, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Lt. — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 With Soto, one of the league’s best sluggers, joining the team in 2025, the Mets went 55-42 in the first half, tumbling out of contention in the second with a 28-37 finish. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumbling

Verb

Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Snow rooms, enclosed caverns of ice and snow, sometimes incorporating gently falling flakes, are the latest at-home flex for some of the world’s wealthiest, according to the New York Times.

— Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 15 July 2026

Definition of falling

Verb

Kindergarten enrolment has been plunging for years, with the number of registrations falling by a quarter just between 2020 and 2024.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 July 2026
Investors will also have a look at IBM’s quarterly numbers, after the legacy tech giant posted preliminary figures that sent the stock plunging .

— Fred Imbert, CNBC, 19 July 2026

Definition of plunging

Verb

Meanwhile in Romania over the weekend, the Danube plunged to its lowest level in 30 years, according to Reuters, disrupting shipping and leading to restrictions on irrigation.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
At least eight people have died as severe weather continues to sweep across the United States, with flash flooding, powerful thunderstorms and extreme heat disrupting travel and threatening communities on July 19.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 20 July 2026

Definition of disrupting

Verb

The most recent fatality was on July 11, when a 64-year-old Greek hiker died after collapsing on a trail.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
De la Fuente’s side are exceptional at counter-pressing — collapsing on to the ball to quickly regain possession and sustain their attack to suffocate the other team.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of collapsing

Verb

The huge animals knocked bodies to the cobblestones, and stumbling runners caused several pileups during the two-and-a-half-minute run from the pen to the bull ring where bullfighters will kill the bulls later in the day.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
The huge animals knocked down bodies to the cobblestones, and stumbling runners caused several pileups during the 2½-minute run from the pen to the bullring where bullfighters would kill the bulls later in the day.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of stumbling

Verb

Perhaps not for the fainthearted, this involves being gently slapped with oak branches in the sauna before dipping into a bracing cold plunge (rinse and repeat).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 July 2026
More footage shot inside the disco shows the Real Madrid hunk grabbing Exposito, dipping her down and giving her a big kiss in front of everyone.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026

Definition of dipping

Verb

Pre-shot routines such as Patrick Cantlay’s foot-shuffling and Brian Harman’s waggles have driven golf fans up a wall.

— Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Far more than an administrative exercise or paper-shuffling task, effective onboarding has the potential to lay the foundation for not only a successful hire, but for a mutually satisfying employment tenure.

— Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of shuffling

Verb

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
Late on, with the game already won, James Garner and substitute Merlin Rohl chased Enzo Fernandez, sending him crumpling to the turf.

— Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026