as in muttering
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggling
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
stumbled twice while she was reciting the "Gettysburg Address"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shuffling
to move heavily or clumsily
the tipsy revelers left the path and wearily stumbled through the tangled undergrowth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in fumbling
to make a mistake
that network announcer rarely stumbles when he's on the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumbling
Verb
-
Clearly, this only constitutes a small blip as things stand and hardly a sign everything is falling apart.—
Simon Johnson,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024 -
The Sacramento Kings have made a major organizational move after their fourth straight loss falling them to a 13-18 record.—
Evan Sidery,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But because of passenger complaints and the need to revitalize a struggling tourist economy, the government adopted new regulations last month that will force a change in these habits.—
Natasha Frost,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2025
-
In those 1930s films, the fast-talking lovers and schemers acknowledged the struggling world around them, if quietly (few films beyond Gold Diggers of 1933 made explicit reference to economic turmoil).—
Eric Kohn,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
But the $12 billion decline in his fortune has more to do with asset shuffling than stock price movement.—
Julie Goldenberg,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
-
James has been shuffling back and forth between the NBA and the G League.—
Benedict Cosgrove,
Newsweek,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Don't Use An Extension Cord In general, extension cords aren't a great idea because of the tripping hazard and the potential for overheating.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2025
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For older people with weaker bones, tripping while walking can sometimes cause a fracture.—
Maggie Aime, MSN,
Health,
25 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
After easily stopping Thanos and Nam-gyu from curb-stomping Ming-gyu at lunch, In-ho earns a lot of people’s respect.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
26 Dec. 2024
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In a similar vein, Malloy’s musical score is almost anonymously eclectic — wistful ballads, stomping pop, a smattering of EDM — but threaded through with enough strains of Russian folk and klezmer to suggest a sense of place.—
Houman Barekat,
New York Times,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Harrison took Georgia’s second-half kickoff all the way to the end zone, slipping a tackle near the middle of the field, cutting toward the right sideline and outrunning everyone.—
Brett Martel,
The Denver Post,
2 Jan. 2025
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By 1980, amid double-digit inflation, spiraling gas prices, and Ayatollah Khomeini’s revolution in Iran, the United States was slipping into another recession.—
Eric Berger,
Ars Technica,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Then came Ukraine’s Maidan revolution in 2013, when tens of thousands of Ukrainians filled Kyiv’s Maidan square for days before toppling the pro-Russia regime.—
Howard LaFranchi,
The Christian Science Monitor,
30 Dec. 2024
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The flower stem can grow to be two to three feet tall or more, often making the plant somewhat top-heavy, so staking or weighing down the container can help prevent the pot from toppling over.—
Janet Carson,
arkansasonline.com,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Joey’s still hesitant about Monica’s sister, Nicolle.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
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But with Trump’s tariffs threatening imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, Target could face additional challenges as consumers grow more hesitant.—
Francisco Velasquez,
Quartz,
4 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Stumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumbling. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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