as in to buzz
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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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
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Recent Examples of bumble
Dina Gachman, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
After some episodes bumbling around, Harry resurrects.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2025
The script itself offers up plenty of solid laughs as characters bumble around searching for connections of the flesh and blood variety when not getting their heads chopped off.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
The Crimson Tide will cruise against FCS Mercer, then draws two bumbling SEC offenses to finish the year.
—Chase Goodbread, The Tennessean, 13 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bumble
Verb
The mix of Greek mythology, robots and mechanical flying scorpions is a little all over the place, but my son was plenty entertained by Scooby and Shaggy’s ability to act like bumbling fools one minute and brave heroes the next.
—Dina Gachman, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
After some episodes bumbling around, Harry resurrects.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2025
The script itself offers up plenty of solid laughs as characters bumble around searching for connections of the flesh and blood variety when not getting their heads chopped off.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
The Crimson Tide will cruise against FCS Mercer, then draws two bumbling SEC offenses to finish the year.
—Chase Goodbread, The Tennessean, 13 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bumble
Cite this Entry
“Bumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumble. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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