1
as in shuffled
to move heavily or clumsily
the seemingly endless parade finally ended, and the drummers and tuba players stumped wearily to their buses
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in challenged
to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat
when my grandfather was a kid, he and his friends would stump one another to dive into the local swimming hole
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of stumped
The question stumped them, but only to some extent.
—
Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Still, managers might be stumped by a request to put on high school hoops or a sailing competition.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The next question, about picadillo, stumped the Oscar nominee.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
But Waddle’s situation, in January 2021, stumped him.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
On Thursday, Pritzker stumped for her with a series of appearances at senior living centers on Chicago's South Side.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
As the campaign took shape, Crockett stumped in urban areas, trying to awaken and broaden the base; more than a million Texas Democrats who voted in 2020 stayed home in 2024.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Continue reading … POLITICS 'CIVICS LESSON’ — Republican shocked after anti-ICE sheriff stumped by basic government question.
—FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Still, Orlando at times this season has fallen away from its defensive identity, which in turn has stumped its offensive output.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Still, managers might be stumped by a request to put on high school hoops or a sailing competition.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The next question, about picadillo, stumped the Oscar nominee.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
But Waddle’s situation, in January 2021, stumped him.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
On Thursday, Pritzker stumped for her with a series of appearances at senior living centers on Chicago's South Side.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
As the campaign took shape, Crockett stumped in urban areas, trying to awaken and broaden the base; more than a million Texas Democrats who voted in 2020 stayed home in 2024.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Continue reading … POLITICS 'CIVICS LESSON’ — Republican shocked after anti-ICE sheriff stumped by basic government question.
—FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Still, Orlando at times this season has fallen away from its defensive identity, which in turn has stumped its offensive output.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumped
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
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Jacas specifically highlighted the players’ buy-in and how the staff challenged him physically and mentally during his time in the facility.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Regulators have challenged specific Kalshi markets while allowing others to proceed, leaving the boundaries unsettled.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
But even at its most tender, Motown never dared to be as unabashedly sultry as the Ottavianos.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Fallon even dared Coughlan to ask Dave Grohl — who is serving as musical guest with his band Foo Fighters — to be her best friend.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
25 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
Cite this Entry
“Stumped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumped. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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