as in finds
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance
stumbled on some old family photos when she was cleaning out a drawer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbles (on or onto)
Verb
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That decline in leadership shows up in surveys like the Pew Research Center’s benchmark poll, which finds that trust in government to do what’s right is hovering near historic lows.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Mar. 2026 -
The series once again finds itself in a prescient position with the industry on the precipice of an extinction-level event, and Valerie once again rises to the occasion with a message worth hearing, delivered with a smile that’s improbably radiant.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trump has made a habit of going off script during televised Oval Office encounters with foreign leaders.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
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Her third feature, Dora, is said to center on a young woman carrying physical and emotional scars who encounters another woman in a seaside village, setting the stage for a slow, transformative healing process.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Stumbles (on or onto).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbles%20%28on%20or%20onto%29. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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