fumble

13 synonyms for fumble, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To handle something clumsily or nervously, often dropping or mishandling it.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

blow

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

poke

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

bollocks bobble bumble flub bodge bungle bollix botch fluff blunder muff

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To handle something clumsily or nervously, often dropping or mishandling it.

“He fumbled with his keys in the dark.”

bollocks bobble bumble flub bodge bungle bollix botch fluff blunder poke blow

2. noun

An instance of dropping or clumsily mishandling something, especially in sport.

“The fumble cost them the game.”

muff

How to use fumble

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

fumble the ball fumble with fumble an opportunity

Etymology

Likely from Low German or Dutch fummelen, "to fumble," possibly related to Scandinavian words for clumsy groping.

Full origin of fumble →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fumble” mean?

The word “fumble” means to handle something clumsily or nervously, often dropping or mishandling it. In plain terms, to handle something awkwardly, or (informally) to badly mess up a chance or moment.

How do you pronounce “fumble”?

“Fumble” is pronounced FUHM-buhl (/ˈfʌmbəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “fumble” in a sentence?

Here is “fumble” used in a sentence: “He fumbled with his keys in the dark.”

What is another word for “fumble”?

Words with a similar meaning to “fumble” include poke.

What part of speech is “fumble”?

Depending on how it is used, “fumble” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “fumble” come from?

The word “fumble” comes from German. Likely from Low German or Dutch fummelen, "to fumble," possibly related to Scandinavian words for clumsy groping.

Is “fumble” a common word?

“Fumble” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “fumble” have?

“Fumble” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to handle something clumsily or nervously, often dropping or mishandling it.

People also searched

blow poke bodge bollocks bobble bumble muff botch blunder fluff bungle flub

Nearby words

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