1
as in falling
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily
the infant stood for a moment and then tumbled on the carpet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in plunging
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
stock prices tumbled after the earnings report was released
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
tumbled all the clothes in her closet as she furiously searched for her favorite pair of jeans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in collapsing
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
all we need is one strong wind, and that old barn is going to tumble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tumbling
Oil prices and stock futures began tumbling yesterday as tensions renewed in the strait, which carries a fifth of the world's oil supply as well as a large amount of liquid natural has and fertilizer.
—
Will Clark, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
The sounds of running water, hard objects (like buttons on a pair of jeans) tumbling around, and the machine's signals can be grating for those trying to sleep.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026
With runners at second and third, Panos made a tumbling catch on a pop-up on the first base line.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Case in point, the dramatic lobby installations from star florist and designer Jeff Leatham, which might include gorgeous, tumbling floral displays in the spring, or a giant plexiglass reindeer in the winter.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumbling
Will Clark, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
The sounds of running water, hard objects (like buttons on a pair of jeans) tumbling around, and the machine's signals can be grating for those trying to sleep.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026
With runners at second and third, Panos made a tumbling catch on a pop-up on the first base line.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Case in point, the dramatic lobby installations from star florist and designer Jeff Leatham, which might include gorgeous, tumbling floral displays in the spring, or a giant plexiglass reindeer in the winter.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumbling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumbling
Verb
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Bishop Moore junior Lucas Magro went 2-1 in the individual singles bracket and took the top seed, William Freshwater of Barron Collier, to a tiebreaker before falling 1-6, 6-1, (10-3).—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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But the Pistons were sloppy with the ball and careless overall in a 94-88 loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday night, falling behind 3-1 in their first-round Eastern Conference series.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In recent months, JNIM relentlessly attacked fuel tankers on the road, coming from neighboring Senegal and Ivory Coast, plunging Bamako into crisis well before the Iran war tightened global fuel supplies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Lopez wowed in a striking silver bodysuit that featured a plunging neckline.—
Sarah Sotoodeh , Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While disrupting the business of an American multinational company may seem a pallid response to the destruction of an Iranian primary school where more than a hundred children were killed, such asymmetric attacks in the physical and digital realms have been a feature of this conflict.—
Sue Halpern,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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Treasury has issued sanctions on more than 1,000 targets since 2025 under the current maximum pressure campaign, the official said, aimed at disrupting Iran’s oil trade and financial networks.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As this process is the main source of energy produced by the sun, this will mean the outward pressure that stops the sun from collapsing under its own gravity also ceases.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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And what's the difference between weakening and collapsing?—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The title track, with its glassy melody and woozy, almost stumbling groove, deploys wholesome, end-of-the-night, comedown energy not unlike Bicep’s most beloved tracks.—
Reid BG,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
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Pack comfortable shoes and enjoy stumbling upon the secrets of the city.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Serve them with a dipping sauce or a dollop of sour cream for an easy appetizer or light meal.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
29 Apr. 2026
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For dipping the pillowy crust, I was told.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There was major line shuffling overall by Cooper on this night, not just Kucherov, but tweaks to three lines, which ended up looking a little different than what was shown in pregame warmup.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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YoshimiO, sharing fellow ’90s icon Flea’s recent interest in the instrument, turns in a credible trumpet line during the track’s shuffling, exuberant second half.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Moses Moody scored 23 points before crumpling to the floor with an apparently serious left knee injury late in overtime as the Golden State Warriors beat Dallas 137-131 on Monday night, extending the Mavericks' home losing streak to 12 games, their longest in 32 years.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
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Late on, with the game already won, James Garner and substitute Merlin Rohl chased Enzo Fernandez, sending him crumpling to the turf.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumbling. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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