fumble

/ˈfʌmbəl/
noun
  1. An act of dropping or mishandling something, especially a ball in sports.
    • The fumble in the final minute cost the team the game.
    • She made a fumble while trying to catch the frisbee.
    • The referee called a fumble, and the crowd groaned.
  2. A clumsy or confused action or attempt.
    • It was just a small fumble, nothing to worry about.
    • The speech started with a fumble, but she recovered quickly.
    • His fumble with the remote control made the TV turn off instead of on.
verb
  1. To handle something clumsily or drop it, especially with the hands.
    • He fumbled through his pockets looking for a pen.
    • The quarterback fumbled the ball, and the other team recovered it.
    • She fumbled with her keys while trying to unlock the door in the dark.
  2. To speak or act in a confused, awkward way, especially when nervous or unsure.
    • During the interview, he fumbled for an answer to the difficult question.
    • The student fumbled an explanation of the science experiment.
    • She fumbled through her speech, forgetting some of her lines.
  3. To fail to catch or field a ball cleanly in sports.
    • The outfielder fumbled the fly ball, allowing the batter to reach second base.
    • The goalkeeper fumbled the save, and the ball rolled into the net.
    • He fumbled the pass, and the ball bounced off his hands.
Antonyms