as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
played the entire piano piece without a single fumble
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grope
to search for something blindly or uncertainly
the librarian fumbled for the light switch as she entered the dark room
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to stumble
to make a mistake
just when it looked like he was going to get away with the ruse, he fumbled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of fumble
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025
In total, Darnold was sacked nine times, which included a fumble that rookie edge rusher Jared Verse returned for a touchdown.
—Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2025
C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
The Ducks came up short of winning their first football championship, fumbling their best chance to overcome that hurdle since 2015, a season that also ended with a loss to Ohio State in the title game.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fumble 
Noun
Mayfield had a critical fourth-quarter fumble during the game.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025
In total, Darnold was sacked nine times, which included a fumble that rookie edge rusher Jared Verse returned for a touchdown.
—Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
The fourth turnover came in the third quarter when Jonnu Smith fumbled after a trio of Jets defenders crunched the tight end.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
The Ducks came up short of winning their first football championship, fumbling their best chance to overcome that hurdle since 2015, a season that also ended with a loss to Ohio State in the title game.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumble
Noun
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Daniel Weiner, the director of government and elections at the Brennan Center for Justice, said the legal deadlines were set in part so that there would be time to make revisions before the Electoral Votes were cast in the event of a mistake or legal challenge.—
Daniel Desrochers,
Kansas City Star,
22 Jan. 2025
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That portrays the Court as an institution that has made historic mistakes on citizenship and need not be trusted as the sole authority on the meaning of the Constitution.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
The New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Eagles defense also uncharacteristically blew several coverages in Week 16, including on two of Daniels’ five touchdown passes.—
Ted Nguyen,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
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Is this a lot of hocus pocus or a computational paradigm that might blow current capabilities out of the water and make NVDA look like, well, Intel of prior years?—
Vineer Bhansali,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Combs allegedly groped a former Da Band member and berated her bandmates.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
15 Jan. 2025
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Faraji also alleges that Dixon groped her buttocks during an office birthday party.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Both players refused to release the ball in an epic battle for possession, the players stumbling toward the TCU student section.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2025
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So what if Soderbergh’s latest attempt to blaze a new path in storytelling stumbles a bit?—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The blunder occurred during the triple toss-up round on Thursday, January 16.—
Aaron Rasmussen,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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Scientists have long known that DNA-copying systems make the occasional blunder—that’s how cancers often start—but only in recent years has technology been sensitive enough to catalog every genetic booboo.—
Amber Dance,
Smithsonian Magazine,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Now, it’s been booted down to #2 for the second time, and not just by a night of WWE RAW.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
-
The stock, which was booted from the Dow in November, is still down more than 50% in the last 12 months.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This 24-hour dive near Uptown is for true degenerates looking to extend the party to unholy hours.—
David Hudnall,
Kansas City Star,
28 Jan. 2025
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The 2025 Toyota 4Runner doesn't look much different from its predecessor.—
Barbara A. Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Trail Cam Revolution Modern trail cams started appearing in the 1980s with the advent of motion sensors that could trip a camera shutter.—
David Hambling,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
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Zach Werenski, who has been one of the NHL’s elite performers this season, simply tripped while all alone carrying the puck up the ice on the power play.—
Aaron Portzline,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near fumble
Cite this Entry
“Fumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumble. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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