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

Remigio lost a fumble on a punt return, costing the Chiefs excellent field position. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026 The Georgia quarterback threw two interceptions for the first time as the Bulldogs’ starter and had a costly late fumble that set up Auburn’s game-winning field goal. — Connor Riley, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Verb

Stage a rally to give your fans hope of an improbable comeback … and then literally fumble the game away. — Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026 Carr fumbled while trying to spike the ball, and Isaiah Glasker pounced on it to help the Cougars maintain a two-score lead going into the locker room. — John Coon, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fumble

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble

Noun

And if so, did Democrats make a mistake by not investing earlier?

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Tampa Bay, which won the AL pennant by forcing opponents into mistakes, committed one error, made two other misplays that could have been charged as errors and had a runner thrown out at the plate.

— Ronald Blum, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of mistake

Verb

These higher-than-usual high tides are supercharged by winds blowing onshore, pushing more seawater on land.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
While Healey is expected to let a reduction in his fiscal buffer do most of the work on the basis that the Iran war has blown a hole in his accounts, tax increases are still likely.

— Ian King, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of blow

Verb

Multiple fraternity members then entered the room, where one of the newcomers kissed her without her consent, and one of the first three men commanded her to take more ketamine and groped her, according to the complaint.

— Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
Chicago police on Tuesday issued a community alert after a man groped a woman on a CTA Red Line subway platform downtown.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of grope

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
Next week will bring major risks for a stock market that's trying to find its footing as the AI trade continues to stumble, with several megacap earnings, a Federal Reserve meeting and a key inflation report in store.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of stumble

Noun

Burks said that leadership blunders are at the problem’s crux.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Soon-to-be Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski held the Rays to just one run in his five innings, but certainly not without the help of some Rays baserunning blunders.

— Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of blunder

Verb

Former Citadel punter James Platte was booting the ball on the Giants’ field after practice on Thursday to punt returners Charlie Jones and Dalen Cambre.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Back at the hotel, Vision boots up his head-laser when Paladin’s drone approaches.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of boot

Verb

Generation and storage, grids, and digital infrastructure all depend on capital that can look beyond short-term market conditions.

— H.E. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
From the street, the small white building looks slightly out of place among the commercial businesses around it.

— Myla S. Roundy, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of look

Verb

Doing so tripped Sixers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, and the nearest official immediately whistled for an offensive foul, Towns’ second inside the first four minutes of the season opener.

— Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Even after Ball tripped Adebayo and knocked him out of the Heat-Charlotte Hornets play-in tournament game early last season, Spoelstra said the Heat left that moment in the past when asked about the play prior to Wednesday’s season opener.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fumble

noun

verb

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