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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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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Recent Examples of bumble
Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
After bumbling around for a while, having some trouble with guards, and befriending a huge alien that many would've expected to be a giant monster at first, the path to the lair is revealed inside an underground section of the spa.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2024
Daniel Stern, who played bumbling burglar Marv in Home Alone, recently reflected on filming the holiday classic, even recalling when Joe Pesci accidentally bit young Macaulay Culkin's finger while shooting one of the movie's intimidation scenes.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
The torque converter slipped enough to prevent me from building up speed and bumbling up the obstacle, as one or two tires lifted off the ground and threw off the front and rear differential operation.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bumble
Verb
The misstep and bumbled efforts to correct it, which left many unable to work their speakers, infuriated the brand’s loyal customers and took a toll on the company’s bottom line.
—Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
After bumbling around for a while, having some trouble with guards, and befriending a huge alien that many would've expected to be a giant monster at first, the path to the lair is revealed inside an underground section of the spa.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2024
Daniel Stern, who played bumbling burglar Marv in Home Alone, recently reflected on filming the holiday classic, even recalling when Joe Pesci accidentally bit young Macaulay Culkin's finger while shooting one of the movie's intimidation scenes.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
The torque converter slipped enough to prevent me from building up speed and bumbling up the obstacle, as one or two tires lifted off the ground and threw off the front and rear differential operation.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 14 Dec. 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 1 Apr. 2025.
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