FUMBLE Synonyms: 152 Similar and Opposite Words

fumble 1 of 2

noun

Definition of fumble

as in mistake

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy played the entire piano piece without a single fumble

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fumble

2 of 2

verb

ˈfəm-bəl

as in to blow

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

as in to grope

to search for something blindly or uncertainly the librarian fumbled for the light switch as she entered the dark room

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as in to stumble

to make a mistake just when it looked like he was going to get away with the ruse, he fumbled

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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 fumble

Noun

Then in Week 18 at Minnesota, Sorrell had eight tackles, a sack and recovered a fumble. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Starting in all 16 games for the first time since 2012, Smith had five sacks, 48 tackles and a fumble returned for a touchdown. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026

Verb

After South Korea’s goalkeeper fumbled a ball, Luis Romo scored the goal that gave the Mexicans six points and pushed them to the top of the standings. — Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026 But in her concentration, Porsha fumbled her words, which made the Faithfuls, who were desperate for a crumb of evidence so early in the game, suspicious of her sincerity. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fumble

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble

Noun

Despite the full lineup and passionate patriotic crowd in Seattle, Team USA looked uncomfortable from the start, fell behind early, made sloppy mistakes and could not keep up with the Belgians, who move on to face Spain in the quarterfinals.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
The scribe carefully inscribed each line with a quill made from a goose feather, while their other hand wielded an erasing knife used to sharpen the quill and scrape away any mistakes.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026

Definition of mistake

Verb

One interception attempt resulted in a large explosion that spectacularly blew the roof off a fuel tank.

— Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
After the final whistle blew and this Norway team had made history, Haaland took a moment and looked into the Norwegian cheering section, trying to process what had just happened.

— Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026

Definition of blow

Verb

After a chance meeting saving the life of a reporter, Dez stumbles across a vast conspiracy and now must stop the forces intent on keeping their secrets safe.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 6 July 2026
The hole was discovered in early April when a volunteer on a weekend cemetery clean-up day stumbled upon it.

— Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026

Definition of stumble

Noun

Sometimes this was committed to good, such as the Marshall Plan and the Peace Corps, and sometimes to ill, as in a series of military blunders meant to quash godless Communism.

— Jim Rasenberger, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also fallen foul of Germany’s World Cup elimination by Paraguay, after stumbling into a social media debacle following a communications blunder.

— Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of blunder

Verb

Balogun’s fancy footwork broke a scoreless deadlock 45 minutes into the action, booting a left-footed shot through the goalie’s outstretched legs.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
On Saturday, the reality star — who was booted from the show mere days after entering the Villa as a bombshell — shared a TikTok addressing her abrupt departure.

— Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 28 June 2026

Definition of boot

Verb

For the best chance of seeing them, move away from city lights, lie flat on your back and look toward the southern sky near the Aquarius constellation, NASA says.

— Julia Gomez, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Mann’s bag appears to be from Chanel, and looks a lot like this $10k pick in particular.

— Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

Definition of look

Verb

Mysterio tripped Page onto the second rope, but Page cut off Rey Mysterio with a big boot as Rey attempted a 619.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Neural pathways controlling core bodily functions — feeling in the limbs, movement and breathing — were collapsing one by one, like circuit breakers tripping in rapid succession.

— Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 June 2026

Definition of trip

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fulsome

fumble

fumbled

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Style

“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumble. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of fumble

noun

verb

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