as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
my future father-in-law shook his head over my fumbled attempt to compliment his daughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blew
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 looked
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 stumbled
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 fumbled
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2025
Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
And the counseling office fumbled it.
—Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Cornell fumbled with Mercader’s clothing, trying to find them.
—Josh Ireland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
When Kahn fumbled Rivaldo’s shot from the edge of the box, Ronaldo was on hand to convert the rebound.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
In turn, the Heat fumbled it away.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The attempt to create a viable and vibrant residential hub arrives after years of neglect and fumbled strategies by the prior owner, an affiliate of real estate firm Z&L Properties.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
But Jaylen Petty fumbled the outlet pass after the steal, and UCF (17-4, 6-3 Big 12) recovered to set up Fulks' jumper to go up by two possessions.
—Arkansas Online, 1 Feb. 2026
Dosunmu plucked the ball away after it was fumbled by Norman Powell, who crashed to the ground as Matas Buzelis blew past him.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
In the preseason opener, Mahomes was on the field for three snaps after the Chiefs recovered a fumbled kickoff to open the game.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
Dallas stumbled, fumbled and grumbled its way to a 122-92 loss, which was somehow not its most lopsided game of the season.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
And the counseling office fumbled it.
—Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Cornell fumbled with Mercader’s clothing, trying to find them.
—Josh Ireland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
When Kahn fumbled Rivaldo’s shot from the edge of the box, Ronaldo was on hand to convert the rebound.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
In turn, the Heat fumbled it away.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The attempt to create a viable and vibrant residential hub arrives after years of neglect and fumbled strategies by the prior owner, an affiliate of real estate firm Z&L Properties.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
But Jaylen Petty fumbled the outlet pass after the steal, and UCF (17-4, 6-3 Big 12) recovered to set up Fulks' jumper to go up by two possessions.
—Arkansas Online, 1 Feb. 2026
Dosunmu plucked the ball away after it was fumbled by Norman Powell, who crashed to the ground as Matas Buzelis blew past him.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbled
Adjective
-
But weighting the draft odds is a delicate business — and one the Bulls remain committed to approaching with a clumsy commitment to competitiveness.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Kurt's key takeaway Scammers are no longer relying only on clumsy emails or obvious red flags.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Up big in the first half, blew the lead, lost.—
Ren Clayton,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The Horns, who blew a pair of must-win games and limped to an 18-13 finish of the regular season before a one-and-done SEC Tourney appearance, were the Last Team In in ESPN’s bracketology projection and could only hope that Joe Lunardi and the selection committee were in lock step.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Heat’s bench rotation also looked a little different because of the team’s injuries.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
-
And the longer the crisis lasts, the greater the danger to an economy that already looked vulnerable before the chaos in the Middle East.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In Season 1, the publication of Lee’s latest exposé – a deep dive into the powerful Washberg family – is immediately followed by the suspicious suicide of Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson), and Lee knows he’s stumbled onto something big.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
-
But the Illini stumbled by losing four of six after that before winning their final two against bottom-dwellers Oregon and Maryland.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
From historic wins, like the first woman to win for cinematography and seventh-ever Oscar tie, to awkward silences to moving tributes and very, very long bits from host Conan O’Brien, the March 15 ceremony was emotional and eventful.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
-
During the acceptance speech for Two People Exchanging Saliva, an awkward moment occurred when the microphone started to descend and the camera shifted to host Conan O'Brien, who was still waiting for the speeches to end.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Critics also complain that Dodge, known for its muscle cars, muffed its transition to hybrid power systems.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
-
But early in the second half, with the Seahawks leading 17-13, Smith muffed another kick and the Seahawks recovered the ball.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In its obituary for Milton Cross, who hosted those broadcasts from 1931 until his death in 1975, the New York Times estimated that regular audiences reached 14 million Americans, roughly 10% of the postwar population.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The team quickly reached new deals with defensive backs Akayleb Evans and Robert Rochell on Monday.—
Mike Kaye
March 12,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Then Nelson dances a guy in the neutral zone and gets tripped … like, that’s what the penalties are for.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
-
As the group went to leave Hughes’ Gainesville home in two separate vehicles, the beloved teacher tripped on the slippery roadway and fell into the street, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbled. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
