LUMBERED Synonyms: 110 Similar and Opposite Words

lumbered

verb

past tense of lumber

as in shuffled

to move heavily or clumsily the elephant lumbered through the jungle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stumbled

to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually the novel's plot lumbers to its predictable conclusion after 500 long pages

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rumbled

to make a low heavy rolling sound the horse-drawn wagon lumbered along the trail

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in loaded

to place a weight or burden on preparations that will lumber the expedition with unnecessary equipment and supplies

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 lumbered The man in the suit who lumbered around in the background of their lives. — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 When the other train finally emerged through the inferno and lumbered past them, the camera man couldn’t help but exclaim. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 15 July 2026 Quietly reading my book without another soul around, a family of four lumbered up with their wagon filled with chairs, toys, an umbrella, and a cooler. — Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 14 July 2026 Just before Megna spoke in the hallway outside the Eagles locker room, Gagne lumbered by on crutches. — Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 June 2026 Many experts had thought sharks didn't exist in the frigid waters of Antarctica before this sleeper shark lumbered warily and briefly into the spotlight of a video camera, researcher Alan Jamieson said this week. — CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026 Many experts had thought sharks didn’t exist in the frigid waters of Antarctica before this sleeper shark lumbered warily and briefly into the spotlight of a video camera, researcher Alan Jamieson said this week. — ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026 Robinson said he was also cut off from food stamps in November as the longest government shutdown in history lumbered on. — Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026 The raccoon took the hint, shimmied down the rope and lumbered onto a ladder before making a less-than-graceful landing on the porch below. — Ronnie Li, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lumbered

Verb

Finally, the next season, Karlsson was shuffled frequently between Abbotsford and Vancouver and resided at the fringes of the NHL lineup.

— Thomas Drance, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Venegas scrolled through his phone while Penna shuffled past us to grab a drink from the office fridge.

— Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of shuffled

Verb

But most of the attempts to scale sodium-ion cells stumbled over short lifespans and poor heat tolerance.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
In her attempt to get away, the woman stumbled and injured her leg, screaming for help the whole time, police said.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of stumbled

Verb

Things became all-too familiar for Kimya Williams after storms rumbled through Gary, Indiana, earlier this month leaving big chunks of the mostly-Black city in the dark for two weeks.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
San Francisco rumbled to a 41-17 win after scoring just 13 points last week against the Tennessee Titans.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of rumbled

Verb

When referee Rick Knox confiscated the belt, Christian loaded up his wrist brace with a wrench.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
In the top of the sixth with the Mets up 1-0 and the bases loaded, Lavender was brought in to get out of a jam for right-hander Christian Scott.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of loaded

Verb

Since then, Barkley has growled at several other people, and all but one have been diagnosed with some type of cancer, Dozier said.

— Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 11 Aug. 2026
At the other end of our road, the cranes of the docks loomed — great Stothert and Pitt machines that growled overhead like something out of Star Wars, guarding the scale and mystery of the River Thames.

— Lee Clayton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of growled

Verb

The ranchers said the park service saddled them with excessive rules and regulations.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Thus, when the National Research Act of 1974 became law, requirements for ethics reviews leaned on local IRBs and saddled local universities and research organizations with the financial and legal risks of reviewing research protocols.

— Angus Chen, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of saddled

Browse Nearby Words

lumber

lumbered

lumberer

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Lumbered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lumbered. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of lumbered

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes