Synonyms of bumble

bumble 1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈbəm-bəl 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buzz
• hum
• zip
• whizz
• whirr
• burr
• whisper
• whir
• whiz
• drone
• zoom
• whistle
• hiss
• coo
• purr
• sigh
• chirr
• churr
• whish
• murmur
• fizz
• rustle
• thrum
• wheeze
• swish
• curr
• whoosh
• sizzle

bumble

2 of 2

verb (2)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fumble
• blow
• bungle
• ruin
• dub
• botch
• boot
• butcher
• muff
• fluff
• spoil
• mangle
• murder
• boggle
• bobble
• screw up
• flub
• destroy
• goof (up)
• foul up
• muck up
• blunder
• damage
• muddle
• mar
• foozle
• bollix (up)
• wreck
• louse up
• mess (up)
• bugger (up)
• injure
• hurt
• flaw
• harm
• gum (up)
• blight
• impair
• mutilate
• blemish
• piffle
• mismanage
• vitiate
• mishandle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• help
• improve
• better
• remedy
• enhance
• ameliorate
• rectify
• refine
• reform
• patch
• repair
• fix
• meliorate
• renovate
• revamp
• doctor
• recondition

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stumble
• struggle
• blunder
• limp
• trudge
• shuffle
• flounder
• fumble
• plod
• lurch
• jog
• lumber
• falter
• sway
• shamble
• reel
• stagger
• totter
• flog
• wallow
• muddle
• welter
• teeter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• coast
• fly
• glide
• sail
• zip
• zoom
• kilt

3

as in to chat

to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly

overcome with stage fright, I could only bumble through the speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chat
• chatter
• drool
• babble
• gibber
• prattle
• sputter
• shout
• gabble
• stutter
• rattle
• jabber
• mutter
• mumble
• drivel
• shriek
• stammer
• blither
• prate
• blabber
• blather
• patter
• bleat
• smatter
• yack
• troll
• yak
• screech
• gab
• mouth
• jaw
• murmur
• jangle
• run on
• chunter
• maunder
• tittle-tattle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pronounce
• articulate
• enunciate

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of bumble

Verb

Perhaps Johnson and his colleagues are all bumbling fools. —Francis Wilkinson, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024

Our protagonist, bumbling policeman Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won), becomes invested in stopping the outbreak when his daughter, Hyo-jin (Kim Hwan-hee), suddenly becomes possessed. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024

Yasmin's simmering secret about her father's death and Harper's vengeful plans to short Pierpoint overshadowed their somewhat incompetent coworker who continues to bumble his way through banking and life. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024

This state of being is only heightened by Harington’s bratty, bumbling version of Muck. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2024