Fumble: meaning, definitions and examples

Fumble is usually used when someone clumsily drops or mishandles something, often due to nervousness or lack of dexterity. It can also refer to making a mistake in an awkward or unskilled way when trying to do something.

• She fumbled with her keys at the door
• During the game, he fumbled the ball and lost possession

Bungle is used when someone does something incompetently or makes a mess of a task. This term also carries a negative connotation, implying that the failure is due to ineptitude.

• The workers bungled the renovation, causing more damage than repair
• She bungled her speech, forgetting important points

Botch is used when someone does something very badly, often due to lack of skill or care. This term has a negative connotation, suggesting the task was performed poorly.

• He really botched the job of painting the living room
• The company's PR team botched their response to the crisis

Mishandle is used when someone manages or deals with something incorrectly or ineffectively. It often implies negligence or incompetence. It usually applies to tasks, situations, or objects.

• The police mishandled the evidence, leading to the collapse of the case
• The waiter mishandled the tray and everything fell to the floor

Fumble is best used when referring to awkward or clumsy handling, especially when someone is trying to do something and they drop or mishandle it. It often implies a lack of coordination or nervousness.

• He fumbled with the keys and dropped them on the ground.
• During the interview, she fumbled her words and struggled to express herself.

Mistake is a more general term for any kind of error or wrong action. It can be used in a wide range of contexts, from casual to formal, without strongly negative connotations.

• I made a mistake in my calculations.
• Everyone makes mistakes; it's part of being human.

Blunder is appropriate when referring to a serious mistake that is typically caused by carelessness or ignorance. It often implies that the mistake had significant consequences.

• The government made a major blunder by miscalculating the budget.
• He realized his blunder too late, and the damage was already done.

Error is generally used in more formal or technical contexts to refer to a mistake, usually in calculations, data, or procedures. It doesn't necessarily imply carelessness.

• The report contained several errors that needed correction.
• A system error caused the program to crash.