1
as in fell
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily
the bride stumbled on the altar steps and landed smack in the arms of the minister
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggled
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
stumbled twice while she was reciting the "Gettysburg Address"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shuffled
to move heavily or clumsily
the tipsy revelers left the path and wearily stumbled through the tangled undergrowth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in fumbled
to make a mistake
that network announcer rarely stumbles when he's on the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stumbled
After starting the season with the sixth-best odds to win the World Series, the Red Sox had stumbled out of the gate to a 10-17 record.
—
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
The president briefly stumbled before being assisted to a secure suite reserved for him behind the stage.
—Calvin Woodward, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
During a routine survey in preparation for a housing development in Winsch, local authorities stumbled upon the former Roman camp in August 2025.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Clemson also stumbled to a 7-6 mark, a year after registering a 10-4 record in 2024.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Last year, a Florida man stumbled upon a shipwreck believed to date back 150 years.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
But lately, beachgoers along Southern California’s coast have stumbled upon something especially striking — a vivid purple marine animal that looks, at first glance, like a mushroom from another world.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
While the Astros have stumbled out of the gate, Alvarez has been at full stride.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Apple has stumbled in its efforts to deliver new features built on AI, as was promised nearly two years ago.
—Kelvin Chan, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
The president briefly stumbled before being assisted to a secure suite reserved for him behind the stage.
—Calvin Woodward, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
During a routine survey in preparation for a housing development in Winsch, local authorities stumbled upon the former Roman camp in August 2025.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Clemson also stumbled to a 7-6 mark, a year after registering a 10-4 record in 2024.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Last year, a Florida man stumbled upon a shipwreck believed to date back 150 years.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
But lately, beachgoers along Southern California’s coast have stumbled upon something especially striking — a vivid purple marine animal that looks, at first glance, like a mushroom from another world.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
While the Astros have stumbled out of the gate, Alvarez has been at full stride.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Apple has stumbled in its efforts to deliver new features built on AI, as was promised nearly two years ago.
—Kelvin Chan, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbled
Verb
-
In the piece, the Vicar of Christ is felled not by his oppressors but rather by a random cosmic event.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Jeff Shell, now felled from his presidency of Paramount, is living proof.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After the fact, Mattel struggled to launch a popular action figure based on original IP.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
-
And Russia has struggled to replenish its military ranks amid horrific casualties on the Ukrainian front line.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The midseason trade felt relatively marginal compared to league-wide blockbusters that shuffled James Harden, Darius Garland and Anthony Davis.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Growing up in a military family, Vogel shuffled between the East Coast and Europe every two to three years.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Trailing to Jule Brand's 19th-minute goal for record eight-time champion Lyon, Arsenal was gifted an equalizer in the 59th when Mariona Caldentey's low free kick into the area was fumbled backward by goalkeeper Christiane Endler and onto the post.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Critics say the Epstein files show how Republican and Democratic administrations alike fumbled the Epstein investigation over two decades, leaving potential coconspirators uncharged.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It’s been all Atleti, but now Arsenal has been awarded a penalty after Eberechi Eze is tripped.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Space heaters provided heat, but the sloths were kept in the cold for at least one night after a fuse tripped.—
Ryan Brennan
April 27,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Padres fielders blundered in three of his outings.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
People see this president as having blundered into a war with no clear rationale.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Guest shark Rashaun Williams strapped on his court shoes, wiped them on their mini mat and stomped onto their court.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Dedicating that much shelf space to the New York Yankees, as your organization gets stomped into the ground by them, at home?—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Escondido, which is sophomore-heavy, slipped to 4-17 overall, 1-7 in league play and has lost seven in a row.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Arsenal’s biggest spike came in the 59th minute when Kai Havertz, slipped through by Martin Odegaard, fired straight into Gianluigi Donnarumma’s hulking frame from just outside the six-yard box.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbled. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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