to feel or grope about clumsily

She fumbled in her purse for the keys.

Sports . to fumble the ball.

to make, handle, etc., clumsily or inefficiently

to fumble an attempt; He fumbled his way through the crowded room.

Sports . to fail to hold or maintain hold on (a ball) after having touched it or carried it.

the act of fumbling

We completed the difficult experiment without a fumble.

Sports . an act or instance of fumbling the ball.

verb

do well

verb

bollix , botch * , bungle * , err , feel , flounder , flub * , fluff * , goof * , grapple , grope , lose the handle , louse up , misfield , mishandle , mismanage , scrabble * , screw up * , spoil , stumble , grabble , poke , blunder , bumble , bungle , fudge , limp , shuffle , stagger , ball up , boggle , foul up , gum up , mess up , muddle , muff , bobble , boot , botch , error , flub , goof , stammer

noun

bull , bungle , foozle , muff , stumble