FLUFFING Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

fluffing

verb

present participle of fluff

as in fumbling

to make a mistake unnerved by her earlier missteps, the skater fluffed on the final jump as well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in blowing

to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way I completely fluffed the introduction by calling the boss's wife by the wrong name

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 fluffing Our experts note that polyester fiberfill pillows generally respond well to dryer ball and hand-fluffing techniques when relatively new, but inexpensive polyester can become permanently matted as fibers tangle over time. — Colleen Sullivan, Martha Stewart, 22 Aug. 2026 In the living room, Mock recommends folding blankets, fluffing pillows, and returning any items that have accrued in the space to their rightful homes. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 July 2026 Add vinaigrette to herb mixture, and toss gently; divide evenly among toasts, fluffing up when arranging. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026 The instructions guided us to put in the dryer for 10 minutes after unpacking, and this makes all the difference in fluffing it up! — Briana Feigon, Architectural Digest, 17 June 2026 And as mentioned above, your curls must be 100% dry before breaking them up, fluffing them, or touching them. — Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 4 May 2026 And despite captain Wendie Renard fluffing the initial penalty, she was afforded a second chance because Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar had stepped off her line. — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 3 May 2026 Tidy living areas by fluffing pillows, folding blankets, and removing visible pet hair. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026 Following Odsonne Édouard's second-half equalizer, Tosin snatched three points for Lorient in the 65th minute, fluffing his initial attempt before rounding the Lens goalkeeper to score. — ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluffing

Verb

The Packers’ offense left the field, but came back after it was ruled that Watson was down before fumbling.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Here was his senior running back, who scored a 44-yard touchdown in their state championship win months earlier, fumbling on the very first play of the Blue-White scrimmage.

— Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of fumbling

Verb

Its exterior is rich with symbolism, from stone carvings representing the all-seeing eye of God to a golden statue, atop the highest spire, of an angel blowing a trumpet to herald the Second Coming.

— Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
There is a micronation on a fortress at sea off the coast of Great Britain, and the British government once considered blowing it up.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of blowing

Verb

The teddy bears, the stumbling answers, the whole morning in the Cotillion was a mess.

— Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026
Calhoun, who moved to Kansas City from Ames, Iowa, in 2016, started photography during the pandemic after stumbling across a photography video on YouTube.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of stumbling

Verb

Balfe also navigates challenges like spatial audio mixing, where collaboration with dubbing mixers is crucial.

— Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
New and upcoming titles under the deal will carry English subtitles and dubbing in the Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 July 2026

Definition of dubbing

Verb

Officials said the bear swiped at the man, scratching his arm, and that the man went on to injure his foot after tripping while trying to escape.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
How quickly the brain and body react after tripping — with your foot automatically thrusting forward, for example, to prevent yourself from face-planting — is what plyometrics trains for.

— Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of tripping

Verb

For a full breakdown of how to clean your bedding without ruining it, refer to AD's guide on how to wash a comforter.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 Aug. 2026
This allegedly caused the cancellation of school recesses, and also ruining weddings and funerals.

— Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of ruining

Browse Nearby Words

fluffiness

fluffing

fluffs

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

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Synonyms of fluffing

verb

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