1
as in palooka
Related Words
Relevance
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 stumblebum
The stumblebum energy disarms us, which makes the gruesome cruelty of the kills that much more disturbing.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
As opposed to palookas and has-beens and tin cans and stumblebums, a player who got waived departed with his dignity intact.
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2018
Gerald Ford, for all his stumblebum image, was a Yale Law School graduate and veteran of legislative details.
—James Fallows, The Atlantic, 20 July 2017
The physicians lining up with Teirstein are not a bunch of stumblebums afraid of a few tests.
—Kurt Eichenwald, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2015
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
As opposed to palookas and has-beens and tin cans and stumblebums, a player who got waived departed with his dignity intact.
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2018
Gerald Ford, for all his stumblebum image, was a Yale Law School graduate and veteran of legislative details.
—James Fallows, The Atlantic, 20 July 2017
The physicians lining up with Teirstein are not a bunch of stumblebums afraid of a few tests.
—Kurt Eichenwald, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumblebum
Noun
-
Don’t be a palooka, start Nacua.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
12 Dec. 2024
-
One year after the Academy bafflingly ignored his work in Sideways, Giamatti finally scored his first Oscar nomination for his purely entertaining performance as boxing manager Joe Gould in Ron Howard’s proudly old-fashioned Depression-era palooka drama.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2024
Noun
-
Those struggles have continued even after the Twins gave Lewis two days off during their last trip, the slugger striking out 10 times in 30 plate appearances over his last eight games.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami hadn’t hit a home run since May 8.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
The event was organized by MVP, co-owned by influencer and boxer Jake Paul and businessman Nakisa Bridarian.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
-
While battling postpartum depression and addiction, Panettiere gave full custody of daughter, Kaya, to her father, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The explosive jazz‑rock pianist – known for redefining piano performance with the physicality of a prizefighter and the swagger of a rock guitarist – is set to turn the DIA’s auditorium into something closer to a sonic combustion chamber.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Mustafa Fteja, 54, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court Thursday to obstructing justice, admitting to playing a key role in the bribery plot, which threw Gogic’s trial into disarray and landed the prizefighter’s lawyer in the crosshairs of a federal investigation.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Many weekend duffers buy their equipment at Dick’s Sporting Goods .—
Tom Rotunno,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Rather than the usual Rat Pack retro or duffer chic, this hip oasis is a slightly rugged desert escape.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In terms of skippers, our Frank Selee might rightly be considered more philosopher than a pugilist.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
6 May 2026
-
But a patient pugilist values the muffled thud of shots to the resolve.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
Djimon Hounsou played Maximus’ right-hand man and closest ally, a Black Numidian man taken from his home as an enslaved gladiator.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
-
The stories of gladiators and the sheer size of the arena captivate younger imaginations in a way few other sites can.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His pug, Thor, lives with Brenda’s sister.—
Nichole Manna,
ProPublica,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Dog breeds like pugs and French and English bulldogs now have significantly altered skull shapes that result in serious, and even life-threatening, issues created by our value of aesthetics.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stumblebum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumblebum. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
