stumblings
Awkward faltering movements
Stumblings are instances of stumbling—trips, missteps, or faltering moments.
The word appears most often in figurative contexts describing errors or lapses: Despite his early stumblings, he eventually mastered the technique.
The plural emphasizes repeated or multiple instances rather than a single stumble.
Planned journeys away
- tumblesFalls in disarray
- fallsDescends or declines
- slipsMinor mistakes made
- lurchesAbrupt unsteady movements
staggers · totters · wobbles · missteps · falters · pitches · reels · shuffles
Reversals of progress
- obstaclesThings in the way
- difficultiesProblems to overcome
- challengesDifficulties requiring effort
- roadblocksObstructions blocking forward movement
hurdles · impediments · hindrances · snags · complications · barriers · struggles · false starts
Serious mistakes from carelessness
- gaffesEmbarrassing social mistakes
- mistakesUnintended wrong actions
- slip-upsCareless small mistakes
- flubsBotches through carelessness
misjudgments · oversights · fumbles · botches · bungles · faux pas · snafus · lapses
Involuntary speech disruptions
- stutteringsRepeated speech interruptions
- hesitationsPauses from doubt
- halting speechInterrupted, uneven talking
- mispronunciationsIncorrect spoken renderings
Accidental fortunate discovery
- happening uponFinding unexpectedly
- coming acrossFinding without seeking
trips
Planned journeys away
lurches · staggers · totters · wobbles · missteps · falters · pitches · reels · shuffles · sprawls
setbacks
Reversals of progress
- obstaclesThings in the way
- difficultiesProblems to overcome
- challengesDifficulties requiring effort
roadblocks · hurdles · impediments · hindrances · snags · complications · barriers · struggles · false starts · rough patches
blunders
Serious mistakes from carelessness
flubs · misjudgments · oversights · fumbles · botches · bungles · faux pas · snafus · lapses · miscalculations
stammerings
Involuntary speech disruptions
- stutteringsRepeated speech interruptions
- hesitationsPauses from doubt
- halting speechInterrupted, uneven talking
serendipity
Accidental fortunate discovery
- happening uponFinding unexpectedly
- coming acrossFinding without seeking
stumblingsgliding
Engineless aerial movement
striding · prancing · dancing · marching · graceful movements
stumblingssmooth sailing
Untroubled progress forward
successes · triumphs · breakthroughs · flawless execution · victories
- stumbling blocksObstacles preventing progress
- stumbling uponFinding by chance
- stumbling acrossFinding unexpectedly
- stumbling onFinding by accident
- stumbling againstTripping toward and touching