Synonyms of lumbering

lumbering 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in shambling

Related Words

• shambling
• wobbly
• lubberly
• shuffling
• lumpish
• galumphing
• unsteady
• ungainly
• gawky
• larruping
• uncoordinated
• klutzy
• clumsy
• graceless
• awkward
• gawkish

Dissimilar Words

• graceful
• coordinated
• nimble
• light
• lithe
• lissome
• light-footed
• sure-footed

2

as in plodding

Related Words

• plodding
• cumbersome
• poky
• vapid
• ordinary
• tepid
• unsurprising
• unexceptional
• commonplace
• palling
• spiritless
• common
• prosaic
• ponderous
• soggy
• tiresome
• slow
• old
• pedestrian
• leaden
• prosy
• wearisome
• tedious
• boring
• drab
• aseptic
• monotonous
• stodgy
• uninteresting
• dullish
• stale
• weary
• tiring
• barren
• arid
• dry
• tame
• dusty
• wearying
• humdrum
• unimaginative
• gray
• numbing
• monochromatic
• pallid
• stuffy
• stupid
• inanimate
• colorless
• earthbound
• dreary
• pedantic
• blah
• sterile
• uninspiring
• unrewarding
• heavy
• mind-numbing
• unspectacular
• drudging
• unexciting
• longsome
• jejune
• uneventful
• jading
• flat
• blank
• dull
• undramatic
• ho-hum
• pleasureless
• unsensational
• suspenseless
• unnewsworthy

Dissimilar Words

• surprising
• wondrous
• astonishing
• moving
• spectacular
• wonderful
• electrifying
• exciting
• sensational
• rousing
• amazing
• astounding
• stirring
• stimulating
• entertaining
• amusing
• inspiring
• marvelous
• animating
• thrilling
• exhilarating
• awesome
• breathtaking
• charming
• energizing
• fabulous
• attractive
• attracting
• entrancing
• touching
• enchanting
• fascinating
• poignant
• galvanizing
• alluring
• rip-roaring
• involving
• diverting
• enthralling
• enlivening
• invigorating
• beguiling
• bewitching
• hair-raising
• interesting
• eye-opening
• engaging
• suspenseful
• captivating
• provocative
• absorbing
• tantalizing
• engrossing
• gripping
• spellbinding
• arresting
• intriguing
• riveting
• mesmerizing

lumbering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of lumber

1

as in shuffling

to move heavily or clumsily

the elephant lumbered through the jungle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shuffling
• stomping
• stumbling
• barging
• shambling
• hauling
• lurching
• weaving
• trudging
• floundering
• plodding
• sloughing
• stamping
• tramping
• dragging
• pounding
• galumphing
• lumping
• scuffling
• stumping
• clumping
• slogging
• staggering
• scuffing
• swaying
• flogging
• waddling
• flopping
• tromping
• blundering
• reeling
• tottering
• careening
• teetering
• doddering
• wobbling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sliding
• gliding
• coasting
• floating
• whisking
• waltzing
• hovering
• drifting
• hanging
• breezing
• wafting
• poising

2

as in stumbling

to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

the novel's plot lumbers to its predictable conclusion after 500 long pages

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stumbling
• struggling
• blundering
• shuffling
• trudging
• floundering
• plodding
• limping
• bumbling
• lurching
• fumbling
• shambling
• jogging
• swaying
• reeling
• flogging
• faltering
• staggering
• tottering
• wallowing
• weltering
• teetering
• muddling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flying
• gliding
• sailing
• coasting
• zooming
• zipping
• kilting

3

as in rumbling

to make a low heavy rolling sound

the horse-drawn wagon lumbered along the trail

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rumbling
• growling
• rolling
• grumbling
• drumming
• thundering
• booming
• bellowing

4

as in loading

to place a weight or burden on

preparations that will lumber the expedition with unnecessary equipment and supplies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• loading
• burdening
• filling
• saddling
• freighting
• packing
• encumbering
• weighting
• weighing
• lading
• ladening
• stacking
• piling
• clogging
• taxing
• cluttering
• hampering
• heaping
• overloading
• overtaxing
• afflicting
• overburdening
• pressing
• handicapping
• straining
• oppressing
• mounding
• surcharging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unloading
• discharging
• relieving
• unlading
• disencumbering
• alleviating
• unburdening
• lightening
• easing
• disburdening

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lumbering

Adjective

The Cubs players continued to taunt Ruth at every opportunity, and a big one came their way in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jurges slashed a sinking liner into right field and the lumbering, top-heavy Babe muffed a shoestring catch. — Literary Hub, 8 June 2026

Verb

The zombie – slow moving, with sallow complexion, hollow eyes, rotting teeth and a hunger for human flesh – has been lumbering through Hollywood movies for decades now. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2026

The pinniped pup looked around quizzically with large, black eyes before lumbering into the surf with abandon — as only the young can. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

The public notice was seen as an important and logical step in the long and lumbering process of monitoring and potentially regulating the most powerful technology the world has ever seen. — Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

And while Brooks Falls offers a front-row seat to their annual salmon feast, bears turn up throughout the park—digging for clams on windswept beaches, lumbering across open tundra, and prowling the banks of remote rivers. — Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026

Imax cameras are lumbering tools that weigh 300 pounds each and roar like Cuisinart blenders. — Brent Lang, Variety, 21 July 2026

Kaishu Sano gave the Samurai Blue the lead in the 29th minute with his first international goal, swooping past a lumbering Casemiro before firing low to goalkeeper Alisson’s right from the edge of the box. — David Hickey, NBC news, 30 June 2026

The invaders’ command-and-control systems were lumbering even before Ukraine began attacking them in earnest. — Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 30 June 2026

Kyle Schwarber was lumbering toward home plate. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 26 June 2026