bumbling 1 of 2

verb (1)

Definition of bumblingnext
present participle of bumble
as in humming
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound a fly bumbling around the room while we were trying to sleep

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bumbling

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of bumble
1
as in fumbling
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way accused the White House staff of bumbling the announcement of the replacement for the cabinet post

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2
as in stumbling
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually I sort of bumbled through the dance number, hoping that it would soon end

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3
as in chatting
to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly overcome with stage fright, I could only bumble through the speech

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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 bumbling
Verb
The pair come off less as cybercriminal masterminds than as galumphing galoots—that is to say, a pair of bumbling oafs who thought that asking AI how to cover their tracks was going to keep them out of federal prison. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2026 There’s no kids club or even pool in this boutique hotel, but that didn’t stop my kids from bumbling around and feeling at ease in an upscale environment. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026 Perhaps this all was unavoidable for a proud player and often bumbling franchise. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026 Kevin's dream of being home alone quickly turns into a hilarious nightmare and battle of wits when a pair of bumbling thieves attempts to break into his house. — Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026 The Kings were booed off the floor Wednesday after bumbling their way through the team’s second-worst homestand of at least four games since February 2021. — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 13 Nov. 2025 In true Reichardt fashion, the driving force of the film is not the crime itself, which takes place in bumbling fashion in the first third, but what happens afterward. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2025 Stars from Christmas Vacation and the original National Lampoon's Vacation reunited at a panel at Chicago Fan Expo earlier this month, where Randy Quaid and Beverly D'Angelo both recalled the Fletch star's difficulties portraying bumbling patriarch Clark Griswold during the 1989 holiday sequel. — Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bumbling
  1. humming
  2. fumbling
  3. stumbling
  4. chatting
  5. buzzing
  6. bungling
  7. struggling
  8. drooling
Verb
  • But all of that said, with over 325 million global subscribers, Netflix remains well positioned to keep its core streaming business humming along nicely, albeit at a somewhat less rapid clip, according to MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The offense has been humming with Williams under center, averaging 31 points per game in his three starts.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of humming
Verb
  • After not fumbling all year and not committing a turnover throughout the month of October, Young got strip-sacked in the second quarter and Tampa Bay returned it for a touchdown.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Seahawks had one of the worst turnovers in the NFL this season, fumbling in their own end zone and handing the 49ers a touchdown with 13 seconds left in the first half.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of fumbling
Verb
  • There was upset after upset, and a few teams were on the verge of stumbling as well.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Resendiz finished strongly, sending Mazoudier stumbling backward in the final minute.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of stumbling
Verb
  • Some people were chatting outside the church when something sounded like an engine backfiring.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • From there, wine flowed as attendees tucked into filet mignon and sea bass while chatting across large burgundy floral centerpieces.
    — Emily Tannenbaum, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of chatting
Verb
  • La Parguera’s main square is buzzing with souvenir shops, street vendors, and local bars that stay lively well into the night.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
  • No wonder there are almost always flies buzzing around the depression, not to mention crunchy beetles and spiders that come to hunt the other invertebrates.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of buzzing
Verb
  • The administration was bungling the withdrawal and struggled to evacuate American citizens and Afghan allies amid the chaos.
    — Azadeh Moaveni, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The combustion of Graham Platner’s candidacy in Maine is another blow to a Democratic Party trying to mend its reputation after bungling the 2024 presidential election.
    — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 9 July 2026
Definition of bungling
Verb
  • The school has implemented programs to help struggling students close achievement gaps and introduced the Hadley Literacy Plan to improve writing schoolwide.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Fashion’s nature risks and dependencies are wide-reaching, from cotton harvests ravaged by drought and leather supply chains riddled with deforestation, to manufacturing hubs struggling with water scarcity and retail networks affected by flooding.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of struggling
Verb
  • Mix these finds into your work wardrobe or your off-duty ensembles—they’re versatile enough to do it all, and the festive palette is worth drooling over.
    — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026
  • There was one of Melissa Gorga’s sprinkle cookies ground into the carpet, and there was Kelsey Swanson, passed out under the piano and drooling on the parquet.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of drooling

Browse Nearby Words

bumbles
bumbling
bumboat
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Cite this Entry

“Bumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumbling. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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