fumbled 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of fumblednext
as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) my future father-in-law shook his head over my fumbled attempt to compliment his daughter

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fumbled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of fumble
1
as in blew
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
2
as in looked
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 stumbled
to make a mistake just when it looked like he was going to get away with the ruse, he fumbled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbled
  1. clumsy
  2. looked
  3. awkward
  4. reached
  5. tripped
  6. botched
  7. felt
  8. ruined
Adjective
  • Far from prolific in front of goal, the Senegalese looked out of sorts, full of running and hunger to score but clumsy, his anxious limbs snatching at chances rather than taking them naturally.
    Henry Flynn, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
  • The first few episodes were rife with clumsy and, at times, confusing time jumps, many that seemed tacked on to preexisting scenes in an effort to retrofit them for a new, Costner-less reality.
    Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of clumsy
Verb
  • The future looked so bright for Michigan Central in 1945 that a baby nursery was added to its many amenities.
    Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Former progressive allies, some with wise, old heads, either stood up against Johnson’s actions or looked away and let their silence and disappointment speak for them.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of looked
Adjective
  • Ahead, the two share some of their etiquette tips for handling those not invited to the wedding to avoid potentially awkward situations that could hurt people on either side of the invitation.
    Brooke Bobb, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2024
  • The timing was awkward — as Bashar and his gang were murdering unarmed protesters en masse.
    Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of awkward
Verb
  • Jayden Daniels was already the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year front-runner, but the QB reached a new level with the Commanders' comeback Sunday, Chris Bumbaca writes.
    Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Clinton was previously hospitalized in Southern California in 2021 for an infection that reached his blood, but was released after six days.
    Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of reached
Verb
  • People close to Pelosi and those familiar with the incident told the New York Times that Pelosi, who served as Democratic leader in the House for 15 years, tripped down the marble stairs at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City.
    Ty Roush, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event and fractured her hip, according to people familiar with her injury who were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
    Mary Clare Jalonick and Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Definition of tripped
Adjective
  • In the days since Yoon’s botched martial law attempt, extraordinary details have emerged of just how many senior figures, both within the political establishment and the military, were caught completely off-guard.
    Helen Regan, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
  • The Titans ended up with just three penalties for 15 yards and one turnover, on a botched pitch attempt from backup quarterback Mason Rudolph to Julius Chestnut.
    Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 10 Aug. 2024
Definition of botched
Verb
  • Tazewell uses black in many different fabrications and leans into using a felting technique to depict the deeper story behind Erivo’s character.
    Essence, Essence, 2 Dec. 2024
  • The massive, winding fabric sculpture, stretching nearly 150 feet long, will be suspended from its roof, in all its crocheted, beaded, and felted glory, until October 31.
    Morgan Meier, Curbed, 12 June 2024
Definition of felt
Verb
  • Collegiate sports have been ruined by the NCAA.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
  • Others shared similar heartwarming stories of kind ways their postal workers went out of their way to cleverly deliver presents in boxes that could’ve ruined holiday surprises.
    Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of ruined
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near fumbled

fumble

fumbled

fumbler

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Cite this Entry

“Fumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fumbled. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.

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