bumble 1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈbəm-bəl How to pronounce bumble (audio)
Definition of bumblenext
as in to hum
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound a fly bumbling around the room while we were trying to sleep

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bumble

2 of 2

verb (2)

1
as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way accused the White House staff of bumbling the announcement of the replacement for the cabinet post

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stumble
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually I sort of bumbled through the dance number, hoping that it would soon end

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3
as in to chat
to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly overcome with stage fright, I could only bumble through the speech

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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 bumble
Verb
There’s no kids club or even pool in this boutique hotel, but that didn’t stop my kids from bumbling around and feeling at ease in an upscale environment. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026 Lori seems to be a bit of a blank slate, both to Julian’s bumbling children and to Julian himself, who thinks Lori has been hired as his assistant to help manage his affairs and sort through the paintings littering his crumbling abode. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026 Perhaps this all was unavoidable for a proud player and often bumbling franchise. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026 Kevin's dream of being home alone quickly turns into a hilarious nightmare and battle of wits when a pair of bumbling thieves attempts to break into his house. — Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bumble
  1. hum
  2. fumble
  3. stumble
  4. chat
  5. buzz
  6. blow
  7. struggle
  8. chatter
Verb
  • Dreamy interludes pad the space between tracks with humming synths and strings; sometimes songs dissolve into floating mood pieces, anchored by a drone or loop.
    — Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The insects protect their queen, collecting in a roiling, humming mass on his hand.
    — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of hum
Verb
  • Lake Brantley appeared to have picked up the first down on third down but the ball was fumbled backwards to put the Patriots in fourth and long.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
  • After Carter Jensen flew out to deep center field, Caglianone tagged from second base and kept running toward home as outfielder Andy Pages fumbled the baseball out of his glove.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of fumble
Verb
  • Vulcan has stumbled due to ongoing problems with the performance of its solid rocket boosters, which are provided by Northrop Grumman.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Nothing that would actually stop a person, a child, a wheelchair or a stumbling drunk from going straight into the water.
    — Joseph V. Sakran, Baltimore Sun, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • The group usually sees two or three families each time, inviting them to chat and get connected with the organization and other mutual aid groups.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Catherine doesn’t share about her life right away, instead choosing to chat about Jean’s canning abilities.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of chat
Verb
  • The lodge is usually buzzing with guests playing card games, enjoying daily happy hour, or sitting by the roaring fireplace.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • In the now-notorious moment, Rock, 61, made a joke directed at Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s buzzed haircut.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of buzz
Verb
  • California is attempting to build the nation's first bullet train, a project that's ballooned in cost and has blown through deadline after deadline for more than a decade.
    — Julie Watts, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The technology adapts the physics of Helmholtz resonance, which is the physical phenomenon behind the hum produced by blowing across a bottle neck.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • According to the court document, the fraud scheme started with recruiting young women who were homeless or struggling with addiction, housing or finances.
    — Adam Duxter, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Even as Brandon Marsh struggled against lefties, he was allowed to hit against tough relievers late in games.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • There’s precious little room here for expansion, something that has led to chatter from time to time about a possible move away from west London’s Shepherd’s Bush district.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • If Hollywood is quick to take a bite out of an injured party, the town’s Mandarins and chattering classes are equally swift to offer advice, solicited or not.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of chatter

Browse Nearby Words

bum (around)
bumble
bumbled
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Cite this Entry

“Bumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumble. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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