as in uncomfortable
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1
as in blowing
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
2
as in groping
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 stumbling
to make a mistake
just when it looked like he was going to get away with the ruse, he fumbled
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Recent Examples of fumbling
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
The robbery, fumbling and amateur, unfolds in classic Reichardt detail, down to Mooney overlooking the fact that the day he’s chosen happens to be one when he’s supposed to be watching his kids, who’ll be out of school.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
One-word answers litter the path toward your desperate, fumbling attempt to get away.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 1 Oct. 2025
No stars are required to dress up and parade for the cameras or to answer fumbling questions from the press; no juries haggle over prizes; and, above all, there is no obligation to observe the highly suspect principle that the latest thing is bound to be the best.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Kayla Kitts, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Kathy Ireland accused her former team of fumbling her multimillion-dollar fortune, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Since the first release in December, critics have accused the administration of fumbling the rollout and withholding too many documents.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
Since the first release in December, critics have accused the administration of fumbling the rollout and withholding too many documents.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
When the first part of season four ends with Benedict fumbling through a disastrous proposal that Sophie become his mistress, Ha does not crumple or explode in fury.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Gibson rushed for 1,000 yards in his second season, then suffered from fumbling issues over his final years with the Commanders.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
But Illinois is at risk of fumbling this opportunity.
—Susana A. Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Though the darkness of the material never swamps the comedy, a balance McGee calibrated deliberately — less interested in the whodunit than in the women fumbling through it.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
That bond helped buoy Stevenson through hard days, which peaked with the return of a fumbling problem that dogged him last year.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
The robbery, fumbling and amateur, unfolds in classic Reichardt detail, down to Mooney overlooking the fact that the day he’s chosen happens to be one when he’s supposed to be watching his kids, who’ll be out of school.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
One-word answers litter the path toward your desperate, fumbling attempt to get away.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 1 Oct. 2025
No stars are required to dress up and parade for the cameras or to answer fumbling questions from the press; no juries haggle over prizes; and, above all, there is no obligation to observe the highly suspect principle that the latest thing is bound to be the best.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
This alone can shave valuable minutes off your screening and help you to breeze through the scanner instead of fumbling at the bins.
—Kayla Kitts, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Kathy Ireland accused her former team of fumbling her multimillion-dollar fortune, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Since the first release in December, critics have accused the administration of fumbling the rollout and withholding too many documents.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
Since the first release in December, critics have accused the administration of fumbling the rollout and withholding too many documents.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
When the first part of season four ends with Benedict fumbling through a disastrous proposal that Sophie become his mistress, Ha does not crumple or explode in fury.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Gibson rushed for 1,000 yards in his second season, then suffered from fumbling issues over his final years with the Commanders.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
But Illinois is at risk of fumbling this opportunity.
—Susana A. Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Though the darkness of the material never swamps the comedy, a balance McGee calibrated deliberately — less interested in the whodunit than in the women fumbling through it.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbling
Adjective
-
And while the area's temperatures are rather lovely year-round, the region's increasingly hazardous air pollution makes visits from February through March seriously uncomfortable.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The impasse has boxed South Africa into an uncomfortable corner because CRRC is owned by the Chinese government, and Beijing is a key BRICS partner.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wind speeds were blowing at 12 mph in Grant, with gusts up to 29 mph, and Fairplay was seeing winds at 21 mph with gusts of up to 38 mph at the time of the closure, according to AccuWeather.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jennifer Jackson, 39, was charged with felony counts of groping a 15-year-old girl and vandalism.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Sheriff got into a tussle with his killer after the stranger started drunkenly groping women, including the victim’s girlfriend, according to Fawaz.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The bubble was the softest in recent memory, with one team after another stumbling late in the season.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The club can continue stumbling through an awkward, uncertain moment.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
On streets tucked behind brick walls and wooden fences near The Shops at Willow Bend, the last traditional mall built in Texas, big boxy homes fill the mazelike streets in neighborhoods with names like Wyndham Hill and Glen Meadows.—
Lilly Kersh,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Ocean City and North Wildwood are also replacing portions of their wooden walkways.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And Kash Patel's FBI seems to be bungling the investigation at every step.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Cricket was shot for yapping uncontrollably, bungling the mission, and killing innocent bystanders.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In any case, its proximity is ideal for those looking for quick and easy access to nature.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The committee is also looking for a year-long contract extension for union health benefits.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Less than a minute into the game, Wild defenseman Brock Faber went to the penalty box for tripping and the Rangers converted on the ensuing power play.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Avantika is the comedic standout as Bible-thumper Grace, who has no trouble taking down full grown men while tripping on drugs throughout much of the film, providing endless levity to the most dire of scenarios.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbling. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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