FUMBLES Synonyms: 148 Similar and Opposite Words

fumbles 1 of 2

noun

plural of fumble

as in mistakes

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy played the entire piano piece without a single fumble

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fumbles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of fumble

as in blows

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

as in gropes

to search for something blindly or uncertainly the librarian fumbled for the light switch as she entered the dark room

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as in stumbles

to make a mistake just when it looked like he was going to get away with the ruse, he fumbled

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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 fumbles

Noun

An interception and two fumbles on exchanges by Jones effectively sealed the deal. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 Wright had two fumbles last year on 75 touches and one fumble as a rookie on 71 touches. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026 Fundamentals like gripping the football properly to prevent fumbles, or tackling and lowering your hips to wrap up and drive a player rather than using shoulder pads or lowering the head, which put players at risk for neck and head injuries. — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 21 Aug. 2026 Turnovers — interceptions and fumbles — subtract 2 points from the responsible player. — Sports Betting, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Since 1994, no 49er has forced more fumbles than Warner with 17, plus one in 12 playoff games. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 The Lions also lost 12 fumbles and committed 20 total turnovers. — Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 The former Kentucky star owns a 5-16 record as a starter while throwing for 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions to go along with a whopping 17 fumbles. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 That stopped Saturday, starting with the two interceptions, a pair of fumbles, one pass breakup and a few would-be sacks. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2026

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 Sims catches a hitch and turns up field but fumbles the ball while switching hands. — Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026 Tensions between the galley and the interior continue to escalate over lunch service, when a radio mishap fumbles the order in which the food should go out. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 May 2026 The movie fumbles the chance to do something arresting with this seminal period in art. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 May 2026 If the creditor fumbles the process, then an otherwise valid and collectible debt may be barred. — Virginia Hammerle, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026 The Seahawks are a high-turnover team on both sides of the ball, but the 49ers have forced just two takeaways in the season series — both fumbles in the opener. — Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026 The Honda backs up a few feet as the agent fumbles at the door handle. — George Petras, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fumbles

Noun

The Tar Heels’ ability to overcome some sloppiness — and, yes, take advantage of a slew of TCU mistakes — was a positive intangible sign after Belichick’s brutal debut season and offseason.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Notice that this entire process still leans on AI to catch AI's mistakes.

— Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of mistakes

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

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

What Hasty built instead compares each coach against the specific opposing talent his players faced, which means a good coach with a bad roster finally looks different from a bad coach with a good one.

— Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
The format rewards behavior that looks nothing like traditional ecommerce.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of looks

Verb

Standard rooms already feel generous by Vegas standards, and suites step up to apartment-like layouts, with separate living areas that make longer stays or work trips more comfortable.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
An agent holding valid credentials, performing thousands of plausible-looking actions across four days, trips neither alarm.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of trips

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fumblers

fumbles

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Style

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

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Synonyms of fumbles

noun

verb

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