to stumble

Examples

• All

• My speech seems halting because in this darkness my words must stumble to your ear.

  Cyrano (2021)

• Concerns have been raised as the President has stumbled, appearing tired in the last debate.

  Reagan (2024)

• It's not the drink, Albert, that makes him stumble.

  War Horse (2011)

• What he saw made him hesitate mentally, stumble in his mind, and feel at a loss.

  Fiction book (1998)

• We're just stumbling through life, making all kinds of mistakes.

  The Lilac Thief (2019)

• I didn't pay much attention as someone else in the room stumbled through an answer.

  Fiction book (1994)

• And after all that, they don't want to stumble into a miserable new faculty situation, Franko says.

  Academic text (2011)

• Later that night, I woke and stumbled into the hall, disoriented, still in Illinois.

  Fiction book (1998)

• I explained the different aspects, and I tried to define it, but I stumbled and faltered.

  Academic text (2005)

• During the presentation, he stumbled over his words, which made him feel embarrassed.

Synonyms

S

to screw up

vsto stumble

• Informal

641 6.3

To make a mistake that ruins what you are doing

is more about an accidental slip or error in various actions

S

to slip

vsto stumble

295 3.0

To forget something by accident

is an accidental error often in speech, action, or decision

D

to drop the ball

vsto stumble

• Informal

38 6.1

Fail to do something you are responsible for

is an accidental error in action or speech rather than a duty failure

T

to trip up

vsto stumble

27 4.9

Make a mistake or cause someone else to make one

is an accidental error focused on the actor rather than causing others to slip

S

to slip up

vsto stumble

• Informal

27 4.1

To make a small careless mistake

is an accidental error often in speech, action, or decision

T

to take a wrong turn

vsto stumble

• Informal

20 3.9

Choosing the wrong direction or decision causes trouble

is a general accidental error, not necessarily a wrong decision path

F

to fumble

vsto stumble

19 3.5

To do something clumsily and make a mistake

is more about accidental error in speech, action, or decision rather than physical clumsiness

G

to goof

vsto stumble

• Informal

17 5.6

To make a silly or careless mistake

is often accidental and can be more serious or formal than a silly error

F

to foul up

vsto stumble

• Informal

8 6.4

To make a mistake that ruins something because you are careless

is an accidental error often in speech, acting, or decision rather than broad spoilage

B

to blunder

vsto stumble

7 4.4

To make a careless mistake by acting or speaking without thinking

is often accidental and can be minor rather than always serious

M

to misspeak

vsto stumble

5 5.6

To say something wrong by mistake

is similar but covers accidental errors beyond only spoken mistakes

M

to make a blunder

vsto stumble

1 4.2

Do something that is a serious and embarrassing mistake

tends to mean an accidental error that may be less serious

M

to make a boo-boo

vsto stumble

• Baby Talk

1 8.4

To do something wrong by accident in a small, silly way

is an accidental error that can be more neutral or adult in tone

S

to stumble over one's words

vsto stumble

• Informal

1 5.6

To speak with small pauses and mistakes because you are nervous

is broader, covering accidental mistakes in speech, action, or decisions

B

to blunder out

vsto stumble

• Informal

7.4

To say something quickly and carelessly without thinking

is more about accidental mistakes generally rather than impulsive speech alone

D

to drop a bollock

vsto stumble

• Offensive

9.9

To make a serious, embarrassing mistake by being careless

is more about accidental slips in speech, action, or decision rather than gross carelessness

D

to drop a chalupa

vsto stumble

• Slang

9.9

To let food fall by accident or make an embarrassing mistake

is primarily an accidental error in speech, action, or decision rather than a coined phrase

Antonyms

S

to succeed

846 2.0

To reach a goal after trying hard

Idioms

S

to stumble over one's words

• Informal

1 5.6

To speak with small pauses and mistakes because you are nervous

Phrasal Verbs

S

to stumble against

1 3.5

To trip and bump into something by accident

How Serious

blunder

49 3.0

to stumble

48 3.0

to slip up

• Informal

27 4.1

to misspeak

5 5.6

to err

50 5.5

Surface Forms

Etymology