as in to buzz
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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1
as in to fumble
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 to stumble
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 to chat
to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly
overcome with stage fright, I could only bumble through the speech
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Recent Examples of bumble
Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Fans often get nostalgic about the movie, with everything from the McCallister home to the various traps Culkin's character Kevin sets for bumbling thieves Harry and Marv coming under the microscope on social media.
—Jack Beresford, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
However, as the volatile gangster, the caregiver and bumbling daddy’s boy begin to plot and scheme, things don’t exactly go according to plan.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
The opening line has been bet down a point, owing to all the Lions’ injuries at all three defensive levels as well as recency bias from Thanksgiving when the Bears bumbled their way out of a potential upset in Motown and the Packers whomped the Dolphins.
—Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bumble 
Verb
The torque converter slipped enough to prevent me from building up speed and bumbling up the obstacle, as one or two tires lifted off the ground and threw off the front and rear differential operation.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Fans often get nostalgic about the movie, with everything from the McCallister home to the various traps Culkin's character Kevin sets for bumbling thieves Harry and Marv coming under the microscope on social media.
—Jack Beresford, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
However, as the volatile gangster, the caregiver and bumbling daddy’s boy begin to plot and scheme, things don’t exactly go according to plan.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
The opening line has been bet down a point, owing to all the Lions’ injuries at all three defensive levels as well as recency bias from Thanksgiving when the Bears bumbled their way out of a potential upset in Motown and the Packers whomped the Dolphins.
—Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bumble
Thesaurus Entries Near bumble
Cite this Entry
“Bumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumble. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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