bumble
1 of 2verb (1)
bum·ble ˈbəm-bəl 
bumbled; bumbling ˈbəm-b(ə-)liŋ
intransitive verb
1
: buzz
2
: drone, rumble
bumble
2 of 2verb (2)
bumbled; bumbling
intransitive verb
1
: blunder
specifically : to speak ineptly in a stuttering and faltering manner
2
: to proceed unsteadily : stumble
transitive verb
: bungle
bumbler
ˈbəm-b(ə-)lər
noun 
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- burr
- buzz
- drone
- hum
- whir
- whirr
- whish
- whiz
- whizz
- zip
- zoom
Verb (2)
- blow
- bobble
- boggle
- bollix (up)
- boot
- botch
- bugger (up)
- bungle
- butcher
- dub
- flub
- fluff
- foozle
- foul up
- fumble
- goof (up)
- louse up
- mangle
- mess (up)
- muck up
- muff
- murder
- screw up
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Jodi Walker, EW.com, 26 Aug. 2021 Zach Woods and Suzy Nakamura round out the cast as other Avenue 5 employees, all of whom bumble around while attempting to maintain order onboard. Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2020 This book by the editors of the blog Lawfare isn’t just another compendium of insider gossip and bumbling treachery. New York Times, 13 Feb. 2020 Jim Parsons is a mercurial wonder as Henry Willson, the brutal, high-powered agent (and closeted homosexual) who turns bumbling Roy into marquee star Rock Hudson through sheer force of will (and compulsory dental work). Darren Franich, EW.com, 29 Apr. 2020 The Lakers looked like a bumbling organization, and the Pelicans looked inept. Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 16 June 2019 Men are often presented as bumbling babysitters instead of caretakers — that onerous task nearly always falls on the mother. Maia Efrem, refinery29.com, 15 June 2019 See More
Verb
The episode kicks off with Rinna continuing to bumble around in the IKEA cupboards in her garage. Jodi Walker, EW.com, 26 Aug. 2021 Zach Woods and Suzy Nakamura round out the cast as other Avenue 5 employees, all of whom bumble around while attempting to maintain order onboard. Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2020 This book by the editors of the blog Lawfare isn’t just another compendium of insider gossip and bumbling treachery. New York Times, 13 Feb. 2020 Jim Parsons is a mercurial wonder as Henry Willson, the brutal, high-powered agent (and closeted homosexual) who turns bumbling Roy into marquee star Rock Hudson through sheer force of will (and compulsory dental work). Darren Franich, EW.com, 29 Apr. 2020 The Lakers looked like a bumbling organization, and the Pelicans looked inept. Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 16 June 2019 Men are often presented as bumbling babysitters instead of caretakers — that onerous task nearly always falls on the mother. Maia Efrem, refinery29.com, 15 June 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English bomblen to boom, of imitative origin
Verb (2)
perhaps alteration of bungle
First Known Use
Verb (1)
1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1533, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Phrases Containing bumble
Kids Definition
bumble
verb
bum·ble ˈbəm-bəl
bumbled; bumbling
: to act, move, or speak in a clumsy way
No more could he afford to be the silly little novice that had bumbled about the Abbey … Brian Jacques, Redwall
Brian Jacques, Redwallbumble 1 of 2
verb (1)
as in to hum
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
Relevance
- hum
- buzz
- zip
- burr
- whisper
- whizz
- whiz
- whir
- drone
- whirr
- zoom
- whistle
- coo
- chirr
- churr
- hiss
- purr
- sigh
- whish
- thrum
- fizz
- curr
- murmur
- wheeze
- whoosh
- rustle
- swish
- sizzle
bumble
2 of 2verb (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
- bobble
- botch
- dub
- flub
- ruin
- muff
- boot
- fluff
- mangle
- muck up
- butcher
- foozle
- murder
- boggle
- screw up
- spoil
- louse up
- blunder
- destroy
- muddle
- mar
- foul up
- damage
- wreck
- bollix (up)
- injure
- goof (up)
- blight
- piffle
- hurt
- harm
- flaw
- blemish
- bugger (up)
- impair
- mess (up)
- mismanage
- mutilate
- vitiate
- gum (up)
- mishandle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- help
- improve
- better
- remedy
- ameliorate
- rectify
- enhance
- refine
- reform
- repair
- fix
- patch
- meliorate
- revamp
- renovate
- 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
- flounder
- shuffle
- trudge
- limp
- fumble
- lurch
- plod
- lumber
- jog
- shamble
- falter
- totter
- reel
- stagger
- muddle
- sway
- welter
- wallow
- flog
- teeter
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fly
- glide
- coast
- sail
- zip
- zoom
- kilt
3
as in to babble
to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and usually unintelligibly overcome with stage fright, I could only bumble through the speech Synonyms & Similar Words
- babble
- chatter
- prattle
- chat
- stutter
- gabble
- gibber
- drool
- sputter
- jabber
- rattle
- shout
- mumble
- mutter
- stammer
- blither
- shriek
- blabber
- drivel
- bleat
- prate
- blather
- patter
- smatter
- yak
- yack
- screech
- troll
- mouth
- gab
- murmur
- jangle
- maunder
- chunter
- jaw
- run on
- tittle-tattle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pronounce
- articulate
- enunciate
- hold
- hold (all/all of) the cards
- hold (in)
- hold (past)
- hold (someone or something) in high regard
- hold (someone) responsible
- hold (someone) up to (public) ridicule
- hold a brief for
- hold a candle to
- hold a gun to someone's head
- hold a quiet conversation
- hold against
- hold all of the cards
- hold all of) the cards
- hold all the aces
- hold away
- hold back
- hold back (someone or something )
- hold back one's tears
- hold back someone or something
- hold beam
- hold close to one's chest
- hold close to the vest
- hold court
- hold down