as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
played the entire piano piece without a single fumble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to blow
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
her assistant fumbled the party plans by getting the time wrong on the invitations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grope
to search for something blindly or uncertainly
the librarian fumbled for the light switch as she entered the dark room
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to stumble
to make a mistake
just when it looked like he was going to get away with the ruse, he fumbled
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 fumble
Owen Hayes, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2025
Las Vegas botched a snap and lost a fumble at the end of Week 13; The Chiefs’ Matthew Wright doinked a game-winning 31-yard field goal through the uprights in Week 14.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2025
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2025
Nena Farrell The Best Wireless Chargers to Refuel Your Phone (or Watch)
Stop fumbling for cables in the dark.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Noun
Jalen Carter hugs a fan after the Eagles recovered a fumble during the fourth quarter.
—Owen Hayes, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2025
Las Vegas botched a snap and lost a fumble at the end of Week 13; The Chiefs’ Matthew Wright doinked a game-winning 31-yard field goal through the uprights in Week 14.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2025
Verb
With so many movie and TV stars being thrown into a sketch cold, too many opening lines were flubbed, and a handful of punchlines were fumbled.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2025
Nena Farrell The Best Wireless Chargers to Refuel Your Phone (or Watch)
Stop fumbling for cables in the dark.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble
Noun
-
However, a few hours later, Party admitted that recording and teasing the song was a mistake.—
Angel Diaz,
Billboard,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Closing Rockledge hospital is a mistake The recent decision by Orlando Health to close its Rockledge Hospital will cost lives in Cocoa.—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
However, buying everything new for your space can get costly and can easily blow your budget.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Courtenay Brown Feb 14, 2025 - Economy Trump trade plan intensifies The Trump trade war has blown past the realm of tariffs.—
Courtenay Brown,
Axios,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Parker said her friend took off and hid in a stairwell after being groped by Alon.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Nightclubs are full of lecherous old Americans groping belly dancers with their webbed frog hands.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
However, the Indian stock market has stumbled recently, with the BSE 500 shedding 19% from its recent peak last September—this after climbing 14.8% in 2024 and 25.1% in 2023.—
Garth Friesen,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Those concerns came to a head during Biden's debate against now-President Donald Trump in June, when Biden sounded hoarse and appeared to stumble through several answers.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors A compilation video featuring three of Wheel of Fortune's most brutal blunders from over the years has become a cringe-watch on social media, scoring more than 4 million views — and fans have been sharing their frustrations.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
-
There’s a clear similarity here to the PUC’s original decision after a 2012 Edison blunder destroyed the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.—
Thomas Elias,
The Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
What’s the point of booting out illegals and criminals while somehow becoming a safe haven for the Tate brothers?—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
-
But touchbacks were still pretty prevalent as teams chose to boot the ball into the end zone and allow their opponents to start at the 30-yard line — as opposed to the 25, where touchbacks previously were spotted.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
And now, thanks to this contract, Evans can look to build some more permanence in Montreal.—
Arpon Basu,
The Athletic,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Related Articles The show featured looks from Ralph Lauren Collection, Purple Label and Polo Ralph Lauren for men, women and children, loosely drawing inspiration from the Hamptons environs, with nods to the maritime and equestrian experiences.—
Booth Moore,
WWD,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Lamine Yamal caught up with him, bumped into him and tripped the centre back to the ground.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Colorado dropped 13 games in a row to open the conference season before tripping UCF.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumble. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share