1
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
2
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
3
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tumbling
Finally, a handful of raw salmon chunks came tumbling out of the last chute.
—
Billy Perrigo, Time, 8 May 2026
Stock indexes in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan have clinched fresh records in recent trading sessions, bouncing back after tumbling in March.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Instead, millions watched as Vonn's arm clipped a gate just 13 seconds into the race, a mistake that flung her body into the air and sent her tumbling down the hill.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 6 May 2026
Of My Own Making opens when, after a decade of productive therapy, Burke discovers a photo of the car accident that took her beloved grandmother’s life, and thirty years of unprocessed grief and trauma come tumbling out.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumbling
Billy Perrigo, Time, 8 May 2026
Stock indexes in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan have clinched fresh records in recent trading sessions, bouncing back after tumbling in March.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Instead, millions watched as Vonn's arm clipped a gate just 13 seconds into the race, a mistake that flung her body into the air and sent her tumbling down the hill.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 6 May 2026
Of My Own Making opens when, after a decade of productive therapy, Burke discovers a photo of the car accident that took her beloved grandmother’s life, and thirty years of unprocessed grief and trauma come tumbling out.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumbling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumbling
Verb
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The magnificent luminosity of the orbs announced their arrival, their glow falling unfamiliar against windowpanes, which drew the people to the street.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
The mismatch between workers and available jobs—a key barometer of labor market stress—has actually improved since that moment, falling below its pre-pandemic level.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
Verb
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The franchise stunned the NBA by trading away cornerstone Luka Dončić, plunging the roster into an immediate identity crisis.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
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Bitcoin has crashed since hitting an all-time high in October last year, losing 40% of its value and plunging the crypto market into a brutal winter crisis.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The United States on June 25 launched a new satellite expected to significantly improve forecasts of solar flares and coronal mass ejections — huge plasma bubbles that can crash into Earth, disrupting power grids and communications.—
David Trainer,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
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Warming temperatures and shifts in sea ice in the Arctic are disrupting the food web gray whales rely on during summer feeding months, according to a 2023 study in Science, leaving many malnourished during migration.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Because of his show’s cancellation, a wormhole opened up backstage at the Ed Sullivan Theater, collapsing the space between his Strike Force Five co-hosts.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
22 May 2026
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Seattle’s economy, far from collapsing, continued to boom.—
Nick Hanauer,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2026
Verb
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In a video shared on Facebook by comedian Mike Goldstein, the man can be seen stumbling out of the bathroom while still fastening his belt.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
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Arriving at Badlands National Park feels like stumbling upon Mars.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
Verb
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While it’s not required, dipping the cut end into a rooting hormone can speed up the rooting process and increase the success rate.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
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Hidden in perpetual darkness, these craters remain colder than Pluto, with temperatures dipping to around minus 370 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 223 degrees Celsius).—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
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This meant slowly shuffling into the wilderness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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At 2-0 down, and with Nuno Espirito Santo shuffling to a back-four, there was a flicker of a pulse and two decent saves from Nick Pope.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Tumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumbling. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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