1
as in palooka
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Recent Examples of stumblebum
As opposed to palookas and has-beens and tin cans and stumblebums, a player who got waived departed with his dignity intact.
—
Joe Queenan, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2018
The physicians lining up with Teirstein are not a bunch of stumblebums afraid of a few tests.
—Kurt Eichenwald, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2015
From the mid-1960s through the early ’70s, my prime rooting years, the Yankees were a team of stumblebums not even redeemed by charm.
—James Traub, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2017
Gerald Ford, for all his stumblebum image, was a Yale Law School graduate and veteran of legislative details.
—James Fallows, The Atlantic, 20 July 2017
Joe Queenan, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2018
The physicians lining up with Teirstein are not a bunch of stumblebums afraid of a few tests.
—Kurt Eichenwald, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2015
From the mid-1960s through the early ’70s, my prime rooting years, the Yankees were a team of stumblebums not even redeemed by charm.
—James Traub, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2017
Gerald Ford, for all his stumblebum image, was a Yale Law School graduate and veteran of legislative details.
—James Fallows, The Atlantic, 20 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumblebum
Noun
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Don’t be a palooka, start Nacua.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
12 Dec. 2024
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One year after the Academy bafflingly ignored his work in Sideways, Giamatti finally scored his first Oscar nomination for his purely entertaining performance as boxing manager Joe Gould in Ron Howard’s proudly old-fashioned Depression-era palooka drama.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2024
Noun
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Despite its strong start, this team will only go as far as the star slugger can take it.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
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The junior sluggers have combined for 48 home runs and 165 runs batted in, which leads all duos nationally.—
Tim Willert,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
Noun
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In one photo shared by professional boxer and MMA fighter Jose Andres Cortes, Swift and Kelce could be seen sitting side by side in a booth at the restaurant.—
Natasha Dye,
People.com,
26 May 2025
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Some of his previous podcast guests include President Donald Trump, chef Guy Fieri, billionaire Elon Musk, actor Jeremy Renner and former professional boxer Mike Tyson.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
Noun
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In the next scene, the boy is no longer dressed like a prizefighter, but in street clothes with a teddy bear sticking out of his backpack, embracing his parents.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
7 Feb. 2025
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Buffalo this year was the prizefighter dropping his gloves, sticking out his chin and daring any of three opponents to land a haymaker.—
Tim Graham,
The Athletic,
7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Not candlelight dinners for two old duffers plodding along, but an act of kindness so needed, especially during rough times.—
Bulletin Board,
Twin Cities,
6 Oct. 2024
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Plenty a duffer who opposed the invasion of Iraq and the privatization of Social Security has gone on to invoke the line in admiring jest.—
Ben McGrath,
The New Yorker,
29 July 2024
Noun
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Bernthal, with his handsome pugilist’s profile, plays Braxton’s emotions explosively close to the surface.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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Eriksen can be a skilled on-ball creator but is more poet than pugilist when competing for loose balls.—
Carl Anka,
The Athletic,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Situated directly below the Main Stand, players can hear everything happening above, like gladiators waiting to enter the coliseum.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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The gladiator lived during the 3rd century A.D. and was between 26 and 35 years old at the time of his death.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
5 May 2025
Noun
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Additionally, some dogs, particularly breeds with extreme infantile traits (such as pugs and French bulldogs), may appear as helpless, harmless, and innocent as small children.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
22 May 2025
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Breeds that are particularly baby-like, such as pugs and French bulldogs, can even exhibit the innocence and helplessness of toddlers.—
Stephanie Edwards,
Discover Magazine,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stumblebum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumblebum. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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