bumbling

American

[buhm-bling] / ˈbʌm blɪŋ /

adjective

liable to make awkward blunders.

a bumbling mechanic.
clumsily incompetent or ineffectual.

bumbling diplomacy.

noun

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.

In that Peacock series, Elizabeth Banks’ Lindy Littlejohn is a best-selling author tired of diminishing her well-earned reputation to placate her husband, a bumbling scientist.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

"The island would not be the same without him. He's still bumbling, still a wee bit getting the wrong end of the stick quite a lot."

From BBC • Apr. 11, 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

He’s spent the months since demanding respect from the press while bumbling his way through scandal after scandal.

From Salon • Jan. 14, 2026

I wonder if I’ll ever not be bumbling and weird around Phil.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

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