stumbling 1 of 2

adjective

as in muttering

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stumbling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of stumble
1
as in falling
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

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2
as in struggling
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually stumbled twice while she was reciting the "Gettysburg Address"

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3
as in shuffling
to move heavily or clumsily the tipsy revelers left the path and wearily stumbled through the tangled undergrowth

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4
as in fumbling
to make a mistake that network announcer rarely stumbles when he's on the air

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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 stumbling
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, 29 July 2026 This can help prevent the patient from stumbling across information that’s difficult to understand, potentially upsetting, or just plain irrelevant to their own situation. — Nicole Pajer, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026 Last year, a bison tragically boiled to death after stumbling into one of Yellowstone's hot springs. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026 If your dog is stumbling, lethargic, vomiting, collapses or is unresponsive, contact a vet immediately while working to cool down your dog. — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 16 July 2026 The huge animals knocked bodies to the cobblestones, and stumbling runners caused several pileups during the two-and-a-half-minute run from the pen to the bull ring where bullfighters will kill the bulls later in the day. — ABC News, 11 July 2026 Australia’s online platforms are stumbling at the very first step in implementing age checks for users, rendering a world-first teen social media ban ineffective, a study by a team that advised the government’s rollout of the curbs found. — Reuters, NBC news, 7 July 2026 Which is why Rhaenyra stumbling during her first days on the job really sucks as a Team Black truther. — The Editors, Vulture, 3 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling
  1. faltering
  2. falling
  3. struggling
  4. shuffling
  5. fumbling
  6. sputtering
  7. tripping
  8. blundering
Adjective
  • The Fed typically avoids rate hikes when hiring is faltering, because higher borrowing costs could slow the economy further.
    — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In 2019 and again in 2020, the company launched a pair of spacecraft that latched onto faltering communication satellites and steered them, providing extra years of life.
    — Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 22 July 2026
Definition of faltering
Verb
  • Brokerages price crypto like an asset class, a few dozen basis points and falling.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • International benchmark Brent crude surpassed $100 a barrel last month, while also falling near $70 a barrel.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of falling
Verb
  • Similar to Abrams, the young shortstop had shown a knack for exceptional, highlight-reel plays while struggling with consistency.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Flagship carriers including American, Lufthansa, Riyadh Air and Singapore Airlines are all struggling to navigate the lengthy, multi-year approval process for bespoke cabins.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggling
Verb
  • Lyman and her family stood to leave, and although none of them spoke, the sound of more than 30 mourners shuffling out of a quiet room was enough to halt the court proceedings for a moment.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The results indicated continued progress in CVS' broader turnaround plan, which has involved cutting $2 billion in costs, closing underperforming stores, shuffling leadership and reducing costs within Medicare Advantage plans.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of shuffling
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
Adjective
  • Trump spoke now not only to distract from his sputtering Iran war and its effects on the economy, but also because his attempts to concretely interfere with the 2026 election thus far have almost all failed.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
  • In one year, the Eagles’ offense went from a pick-your-poison attack that helped Philadelphia win the Super Bowl to a sputtering three-and-out machine.
    — Mike Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of sputtering
Verb
  • The plumbing was failing, the floors were uneven and posed tripping hazards, the foundation was crumbling and sewage sometimes backed up into a corner of the kitchen.
    — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Today, Hollywood agencies, studios and streamers are tripping over themselves to sign digital talent.
    — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of tripping
Verb
  • On Monday, the first day of the trial in which Basabe is representing himself without an attorney, the proceedings were shaded by Basabe’s blundering legal missteps and procedural chaos.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • The bull sagged at the front quarters, then began a desperate, blundering run.
    — Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 8 July 2026
Definition of blundering

Phrases Containing stumbling

Browse Nearby Words

stumble (upon)
stumbling
stumbling block
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Cite this Entry

“Stumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stumbling

Nglish: Translation of stumbling for Spanish Speakers

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