1
as in to fall
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily
the bride stumbled on the altar steps and landed smack in the arms of the minister
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to struggle
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
stumbled twice while she was reciting the "Gettysburg Address"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
the tipsy revelers left the path and wearily stumbled through the tangled undergrowth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to fumble
to make a mistake
that network announcer rarely stumbles when he's on the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
was his hurtful remark a regrettable stumble, or was it made with artful intention?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 stumble
Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Because if not for that potential off-ramp of failing in the play-in and stumbling into the lottery, then the possibility of even more of this — a best-of-seven opening-round playoff series against an opponent that Wednesday night completed a 4-0 regular-season sweep.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
But as Blue Owl’s stumble rattles the industry, its standing in Washington is also getting shakier.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumble
Verb
After being shot, Chatfield stumbled back into his apartment, seeking help from his mother, Walter Fields, an attorney and longtime friend of the family told the Daily News.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Because if not for that potential off-ramp of failing in the play-in and stumbling into the lottery, then the possibility of even more of this — a best-of-seven opening-round playoff series against an opponent that Wednesday night completed a 4-0 regular-season sweep.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
However, through savvy identification of talent and astute player development, the Orioles soon became legitimate contenders, winning 89 games in 1960 and 95 in 1961, and, after a brief stumble, 86 in 1963, 97 in 1964 and 94 in 1965.
—Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
But as Blue Owl’s stumble rattles the industry, its standing in Washington is also getting shakier.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumble
Verb
-
That’s led to a generation of kids being treated as Big Tech guinea pigs and falling student achievement scores.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The follow-up Saturday just fell short of also being special.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps those June friendlies in Florida will give him one more chance to experiment, but the simple reality is that any Kane-less plan will struggle to get off the ground.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The waiver was established by the TEA to provide additional flexibility to go out of state to find qualified leaders to right the ships of struggling districts.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After the offense was shut out on four hits in Tuesday night’s 2-0 loss to the Angels, Counsell shuffled the lineup.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, Meyerson was shuffled to three different ALFs in six months — from Hialeah to Kendall to Homestead.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the years went by, judges complained that the city’s in-house lawyers had fumbled key casework.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Nothing erodes confidence faster than fumbling for lockboxes, waiting on unresponsive listing agents, or showing a space that clearly doesn’t fit.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There were almost too many mistakes to count.—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Getting your taxes done early can help reduce stress, avoid last-minute mistakes, and give you more time to fix any issues, such as missing forms or incorrect personal information.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Also offering Ninja Warrior Day Camp with obstacle courses, trampoline, tumble track, rock wall and more.—
Jessie Dax-Setkus,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The payoff for the rough and tumble pickup games came via D1 offers for both Jeremy and Jeremiah (and a first-round draft pick to the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans for Jeremiah).—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Caroline Holcombe slipped a perfect pass to Audrey Anderson in the box, but her shot attempt bounced off the hands of Sophie Strain, the goalkeeper for Guyer (20-4-1).—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Draghi, who also served as Italy’s prime minister, states that, without radical reform, the European Union is set to slip into economic and geopolitical decline.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stomped around here like rabid Goths wearing bearskin vests.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
-
At times, their set had the foot-stomping intensity of a tent revival.—
Joey Guerra,
Houston Chronicle,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumble. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
