FUMBLES Synonyms: 148 Similar and Opposite Words

fumbles 1 of 2

noun

plural of fumble

as in mistakes

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy played the entire piano piece without a single fumble

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fumbles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of fumble

as in blows

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in gropes

to search for something blindly or uncertainly the librarian fumbled for the light switch as she entered the dark room

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as in stumbles

to make a mistake just when it looked like he was going to get away with the ruse, he fumbled

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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 fumbles

Noun

The Dolphins offense lost two fumbles, and threw two interceptions on Thursday, the team’s second on-field day of training camp. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026 When a robot fumbles, 6G provides a safety net via remote human teleoperation. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 July 2026 And Nix checks in at 23 interceptions, seven fumbles, two lost, for 25. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 17 July 2026 In the games so far, there have been quite a few fumbles and an apparent slackness of mind and limb. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 24 June 2026 Pass rusher Nik Bonitto forced two fumbles by attacking Allen’s elbow. — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 9 June 2026 Such livestreams can convey seemingly greater transparency than short videos by allowing viewers to see robotic flaws and fumbles in real time. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026 Jedi-in-training Rey (Daisy Ridley), reluctant hero Finn (John Boyega) and X-wing warrior Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) lead the ragtag Resistance against a returning Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) in a film that's full of logic fumbles and muddies the focus of the third and final trilogy. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 May 2026 Mired by the Texans’ smothering defense, Rodgers completed 17-of-33 passes for 146 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception and two fumbles. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026

Verb

Tensions between the galley and the interior continue to escalate over lunch service, when a radio mishap fumbles the order in which the food should go out. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 May 2026 The movie fumbles the chance to do something arresting with this seminal period in art. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 May 2026 If the creditor fumbles the process, then an otherwise valid and collectible debt may be barred. — Virginia Hammerle, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026 The Seahawks are a high-turnover team on both sides of the ball, but the 49ers have forced just two takeaways in the season series — both fumbles in the opener. — Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026 The Honda backs up a few feet as the agent fumbles at the door handle. — George Petras, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026 Texas kick returner Ryan Niblett gets blasted on a kick return and fumbles the ball, and Michigan takes advantage with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Underwood to Kendrick Bell. — Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025 Toney fumbles Malachi Toney fumbled near midfield. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025 For the one who fumbles with matches Sleek, sustainable, and a satisfying way to light candles. — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 15 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbles

Noun

Kyle Tucker homered for the second consecutive game, Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed one run in six gritty innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers capitalized on two defensive mistakes by the New York Mets in a 4-3 victory Saturday night.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Both humans and algorithms can make mistakes, but society does not yet trust the algorithm with the final word.

— Bhaskar Chakravorti, Fortune, 25 July 2026

Definition of mistakes

Verb

That area, as much for necessity as anything, becomes highly populated once the final practice whistle blows.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 27 July 2026
But anyone who understands sports beyond using them as a vehicle for political commentary knows that athletes routinely play through pain while the action is still live, then react once the whistle blows.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of blows

Noun

But the show’s episodic structure actually softens the impact of these blunders.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 July 2026
The real cost of getting it wrong Marketing blunders are often amusing, and some of these examples have become business school case studies of what not to do.

— Karen Stollznow, The Conversation, 23 July 2026

Definition of blunders

Verb

In only a handful of generations some populations have begun evolving resistance, and the crash many expected to end in the extinction of the species now looks more like an uneasy coexistence.

— John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
There’s a collective anticipation as the audience looks toward the stage.

— Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of looks

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fumblers

fumbles

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“Fumbles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbles. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of fumbles

noun

verb

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