bumbling
adjective
bum·bling
ˈbəm-b(ə-)liŋ 
: awkwardly blundering or faltering
a bumbling speaker
: prone to or marked by foolish mistakes
a bumbling attempt to fix the problem
… many Americans see the F.D.A. as bumbling and inefficient …—
Herbert Burkholz
Herbert Burkholz
bumblingly
adverb
… none of them truly wants him in her home while he tries, bumblingly, to get his act together …
—Laura Collins-Hughes
Laura Collins-Hughes
Examples of bumbling in a Sentence
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Based on the popular 1960s spy sitcom, this weak adaptation casts Steve Carell as a bumbling secret agent, with Hathaway as his more competent partner and developing love interest.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
When bumbling village policeman Derry (an endearing Nicholas Braun) dismisses any suspicion of foul play despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, it’s left to the sheep to prove otherwise — despite no ability to converse with their human counterparts beyond Lassie-style leading and hinting.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
All the other live action stars have their moments, including perfectly cast Thompson and bumbling Braun.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2026
But those bumbling ‘62 Mets are now looked back upon somewhat fondly, because seven years later, the Amazin’ Mets were born.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
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Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
When bumbling village policeman Derry (an endearing Nicholas Braun) dismisses any suspicion of foul play despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, it’s left to the sheep to prove otherwise — despite no ability to converse with their human counterparts beyond Lassie-style leading and hinting.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
All the other live action stars have their moments, including perfectly cast Thompson and bumbling Braun.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2026
But those bumbling ‘62 Mets are now looked back upon somewhat fondly, because seven years later, the Amazin’ Mets were born.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bumbling
Cite this Entry
“Bumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bumbling. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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