bumbles 1 of 2

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of bumble
as in hums
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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bumbles

2 of 2

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of bumble
1
as in fumbles
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 stumbles
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 sputters
to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly overcome with stage fright, I could only bumble through the speech

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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 bumbles
Verb
Despite the seeming horror of it all, the world just bumbles onwards. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 22 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bumbles
  1. hums
  2. fumbles
  3. stumbles
  4. sputters
  5. buzzes
  6. blows
  7. struggles
  8. chats
Verb
  • Best Time to Visit The best time to visit Delray Beach is from late April through early June, when the city still hums with energy but sheds the intensity of peak season.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026
  • This deck area positively hums with IG brunch-scene potential.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026
Definition of hums
Verb
  • Lake Mary’s Remy Jarman fumbles the ball on his run and Oviedo recovers.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Buford scored 17 points off three Gainesville fumbles on punt plays.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fumbles
Verb
  • In the movie, the two actors first cross paths when Ledger’s character stumbles upon Bettany, who is fully naked, strolling through the streets after losing his clothes and money from gambling.
    — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Shortly after, a young man stumbles towards Pat from the direction of the pub, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
    — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of stumbles
Verb
  • But for ordinary Americans, for those of us without fame, wealth, or connections, the machinery of justice often sputters.
    — Letters to the Editor, Hartford Courant, 28 May 2026
  • This will be a close game while the Eagles offense sputters against the Seahawks defense, and the offense hears a few boos in the second half.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Definition of sputters
Verb
  • Stand-Up Paddleboarding at Lakeside Marina Jessica Verne The alarm buzzes early on our second full day in South Lake Tahoe.
    — Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The kitchen buzzes as volunteers carry in trays of Creole dishes and barbecue while one of the sisters stirs a large cooler of lemon margaritas.
    — Windsor Johnston, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of buzzes
Verb
  • The Las Vegas spectacle, which opened to the public in August 2025, already blows audiences around with tornado-force wind, shakes them with haptic seats, sends giant winged monkeys flying overhead and drops hundreds of foam apples from the ceiling.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • By the time Frey and Felder nearly came to blows backstage in the summer of 1980, however, those threads were too frayed to hold.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of blows
Verb
  • Las Vegas struggles to generate second chances without her on the court.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Huang also pushed back against concerns that Nvidia could be left on the hook if one of those companies struggles.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggles
Verb
  • Shuenemeyer regularly chats with other arborists from Maine to Washington, looking to identify and catalog historic varieties of apples.
    — Kevin Strong, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Some of the German Telegram chats date back to at least 2020, court documents show.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of chats

Browse Nearby Words

bumblers
bumbles
bumbling
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Cite this Entry

“Bumbles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumbles. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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