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Synonyms

bumbling

American  
[buhm-bling] / ˈbʌm blɪŋ /

adjective

  1. liable to make awkward blunders.

    a bumbling mechanic.

  2. clumsily incompetent or ineffectual.

    bumbling diplomacy.

noun

  1. the act or practice of making blunders.

    The bumbling of their officers cost them the battle.

Other Word Forms

  • bumblingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of bumbling

First recorded in 1525–35; bumble 1 + -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You’re going to get a refresh of the QB’s bumbling history against the Patriots—including the miserable night with the Jets when he complained he was “seeing ghosts”—but this dude isn’t that dude.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

Plus, they also received the annual charity of padding their record with two games against the bumbling New York Jets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

Kidnapped by bumbling conspiracy theorists Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis, Michelle stares at her jailer calmly as she pitches them on letting her go.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

His performance in office has been anything but impressive, with stories of his bumbling the early days of the Charlie Kirk investigation and his mishandling of the Epstein files.

From Salon • Dec. 11, 2025

Jeremy smiled as Spess came bumbling down the front steps of his house.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.