bumbling

English

Verb

bumbling

1. present participle and gerund of bumble

Noun

bumbling (plural bumblings)

1. The act of one who bumbles; a mistake or error, especially through clumsiness.

Adjective

bumbling (comparative more bumbling, superlative most bumbling)

1. Acting in a confused or ineffectual way; incompetent or inept; showing little or no skill.

   a bumbling fool

   • 2019 March 17, Swanee Hunt, “My career: From bumbling neophyte to pioneering diplomat”, in CNN‎^[1], archived from the original on 16 May 2024:

     The purpose of sharing these accounts – particularly during Women’s History Month – is to show that women, like men, can grow from bumbling neophytes to competent leaders.

   • 2023 September 13, Gary Shteyngart, “Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson review – arrested development”, in The Guardian‎^[2], →ISSN, archived from the original on 11 November 2023:

     This wasn’t the first time I held Isaacson’s judgment in low regard. […] Linda Yaccarino, Musk’s almost comically bumbling CEO of X is “wickedly smart”.

Derived terms

• bumblingly

Translations

acting in a confused or ineffectual way, incompetent

• Italian: goffo (it), imbranato (it)
• Māori: pakihawa, ninipa