shambling
1
8.6
- noun
- /ˈʃæmblɪŋ/
- The old man was known for his shambling gait as he walked slowly down the street.
- shambling man
Examples
-
Lindsay loved Ralph's looks, a large, shambling man with dark, woolly hair and dark eyes, who had such a sensitive, shy, gentle nature, yet radiated an inner strength she found comforting and compelling.
Fiction book (2001) -
Ezra had a townhouse in Washington, D.C., that I had heard was as spare and elegant as he himself was massive and shambling.
Fiction book (1998) -
He was solid, easy in his own body, moving with the shambling, quiet grace of a confident man.
Fiction book (1993) -
He's happily distracted from these thoughts when Sebastian's father comes over: a tall, soft-spoken, shambling man Aaron has always liked.
Fiction book (1991) -
Tall, silver-haired, slightly stooped and shambling, the actor catches the full light of Feynman's embracing spirit, his curiosity, imagination, and obstinacy.
Blog text (32) -
After the long hike, I noticed my friend moving with a shambling walk, his feet dragging on the ground.
-
The dog had a shambling trot, struggling to keep up with the faster animals at the park.
Synonyms
8
3.9
A way of walking by dragging the feet along the ground
1
3.9
To walk slowly while dragging the feet so they barely lift
1
8.0
A slow, awkward walk that drags the feet
How Awkward
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Shambling comes from the old verb shamble, meaning 'to walk awkwardly' or 'to drag the feet'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of shambles, a messy market or place where people move slowly and unevenly through the crowd, so shambling describes that slow, dragging walk.