stumbling
Losing your footing
Stumbling is the present participle of stumble—to trip or lose one's footing while walking: She went stumbling down the dark hallway.
Figuratively, stumbling means faltering or making mistakes: stumbling through an apology, stumbling over his words.
A stumbling block is an obstacle that impedes progress.
Losing balance walking
- totteringMoving unsteadily, nearly falling
- staggeringShockingly impressive or unsteady
- lurchingMoving unsteadily, abruptly
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
wobbling · unsteady · shambling · reeling · teetering · misstep · slip · tumble
Marked by hesitation
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- uncertainNot firmly known
stammering · stuttering · sputtering · choppy · broken · disjointed · uneven · interrupted
Lacking grace or ease
- bumblingClumsily incompetent
- fumblingClumsy, uncoordinated handling
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
- ineptLacking skill or competence
lumbering · gawky · maladroit · uncoordinated · blundering · clunky · ungraceful · klutzy
Foolish, costly mistake
- misstepError in action or judgment
- slipMinor error or misstep
- gaffeClumsy social error
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
slipup · lapse · mistake · flub · bungle · blooper · miscue · trip up
Thing that obstructs progress
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- snagUnforeseen complication
- roadblockObstruction across a road
hurdle · obstruction · setback · pitfall · complication · difficulty · holdup · hitch
Likelihood of occurrence
- accidentalOccurring by chance
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- happen uponEncounter unexpectedly
- encounterUnexpected meeting or confrontation
discover · finding · unearthing · coming across · running into · lucky find · fortuitous · unexpected
tripping
Losing balance walking
- totteringMoving unsteadily, nearly falling
- staggeringShockingly impressive or unsteady
- lurchingMoving unsteadily, abruptly
faltering · wobbling · unsteady · shambling · reeling · teetering · misstep · slip · tumble · plodding
halting
Marked by hesitation
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
uncertain · stammering · stuttering · sputtering · choppy · broken · disjointed · uneven · interrupted · fitful
awkward
Lacking grace or ease
inept · lumbering · gawky · maladroit · uncoordinated · blundering · clunky · ungraceful · klutzy · oafish
blunder
Foolish, costly mistake
faux pas · slipup · lapse · mistake · flub · bungle · blooper · miscue · trip up · foul-up
impediment
Thing that obstructs progress
roadblock · hurdle · obstruction · setback · pitfall · complication · difficulty · holdup · hitch · catch
chance
Likelihood of occurrence
- accidentalOccurring by chance
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- happen uponEncounter unexpectedly
encounter · discover · finding · unearthing · coming across · running into · lucky find · fortuitous · unexpected
- clumsinessclumsiness, clumsy, awkwardness, fumble, slip
- slapstickpratfall, banana peel, pie throw, falling down, custard pie
- physical clumsinessclumsiness, awkwardness, fumbling, ungainliness, gracelessness
- gait problemslimp, limping, hobble, hobbling, shuffle
- intoxication effectseuphoria, dizziness, slurred speech, drowsiness, confusion
- Horse Problemscribbing, weaving, bucking, rearing, biting
stumblingfluent
Speaking smoothly, effortlessly
eloquent · articulate · smooth · silver-tongued · well-spoken
- stumbling blocksObstacles preventing progress
- stumbling uponFinding by chance
- stumbling acrossFinding unexpectedly
- stumbling onFinding by accident
- stumbling againstTripping toward and touching