bumbling 1 of 2

verb (1)

Definition of bumblingnext
present participle of bumble
as in humming
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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bumbling

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of bumble
1
as in fumbling
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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2
as in stumbling
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 chatting
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 bumbling
Verb
The pair come off less as cybercriminal masterminds than as galumphing galoots—that is to say, a pair of bumbling oafs who thought that asking AI how to cover their tracks was going to keep them out of federal prison. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2026 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 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 The Kings were booed off the floor Wednesday after bumbling their way through the team’s second-worst homestand of at least four games since February 2021. — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 13 Nov. 2025 In true Reichardt fashion, the driving force of the film is not the crime itself, which takes place in bumbling fashion in the first third, but what happens afterward. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2025 Stars from Christmas Vacation and the original National Lampoon's Vacation reunited at a panel at Chicago Fan Expo earlier this month, where Randy Quaid and Beverly D'Angelo both recalled the Fletch star's difficulties portraying bumbling patriarch Clark Griswold during the 1989 holiday sequel. — Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bumbling
  1. humming
  2. fumbling
  3. stumbling
  4. chatting
  5. buzzing
  6. bungling
  7. struggling
  8. drooling
Verb
  • After all, the transactions were humming along at a rapid pace.
    — Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • On the other hand, it has also been credited for keeping the US economy humming, as wealthier Americans keep spending and businesses keep hiring.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of humming
Verb
  • Most of the world was fumbling and scared, and Fauci seemed to have some idea of what to do.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Achane, the Miami Dolphins’ starting tailback, was referring to Ollie Gordon II fumbling the ball away in Wednesday practice, the team’s first of training camp.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of fumbling
Verb
  • Such a contrast to the wonderful Bootham Crescent, York’s home until 2020 and within stumbling distance of not only the famous Minster but all the city’s many other attractions.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The most underachieving team on the Los Angeles sports landscape is embarrassingly stumbling through another season.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of stumbling
Verb
  • According to Schaffer, just as surreal as directing the former president was chatting with him during the downtime of the four-hour shoot.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Walk past locals chatting beside their motorbikes and enter the pedestrian Old Town through the Sea Gate beneath its Venetian lion.
    — Jonathan Wiggin, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of chatting
Verb
  • Discussion forums were buzzing, mining the multitude of horror movie references embedded in the series.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • For the last week or two there have been dozens and dozens of dragonflies buzzing around.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of buzzing
Verb
  • The combustion of Graham Platner’s candidacy in Maine is another blow to a Democratic Party trying to mend its reputation after bungling the 2024 presidential election.
    — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 9 July 2026
  • San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who polled at 5% in the CBS survey, accused Becerra of bungling the federal government’s response to COVID-19, mpox and the influx in child migrants under former President Joe Biden.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of bungling
Verb
  • One professor is struggling with funding cuts and getting grants for his students to research one of the oldest long-term studies in the world.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Who’s struggling in the workroom by the end of the first day?
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggling
Verb
  • Stuff like Caitlin Clark getting mugged with no foul being called, or Sophie Cunningham pointing at some obnoxious player, or ESPN drooling over a coach wearing a pro-trans shirt.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Video released by the Milwaukie Police Department shows Descamps sprawled in a hospital bed, his body limp, moaning and drooling, while medical staff stood nearby.
    — Brian Mann, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of drooling

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Cite this Entry

“Bumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumbling. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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