What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stumbled
Example
I stumbled over a rock and almost fell. [stumbled: past tense]
Example
She stumbled upon a hidden treasure while hiking in the mountains. [stumbled: past tense]
Example
He stumbled through his speech, forgetting some of his lines. [stumbled: past tense]
blunder
Example
The company's decision to invest in that project was a blunder. [blunder: noun]
Example
She made a blunder by sending the email to the wrong person. [blunder: noun]
Example
He blundered his way through the negotiation, causing the deal to fall apart. [blundered: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stumbled is more commonly used than blunder in everyday language. Stumbled can refer to a variety of minor mistakes, while blunder is usually reserved for more significant errors.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stumbled and blunder?
Blunder is generally considered more formal than stumbled. It is often used in professional or academic contexts to describe serious mistakes or errors in judgment.
