blunderingly

blun·der

 (blŭn′dər)

n.

A mistake typically caused by ignorance or carelessness.

v. blun·dered, blun·der·ing, blun·ders

v.intr.

1. To make a mistake.

2. To move clumsily or haltingly.

v.tr.

1. To make a mistake in; botch: would-be thieves blundering a break-in.

2. To utter (something) stupidly or thoughtlessly.

---

[From Middle English blunderen, to go blindly, perhaps from Old Swedish blundra, have one's eyes closed, from Old Norse blunda.]

---

blun′der·er n.

blun′der·ing·ly adv.

Synonyms: blunder, bumble¹, flounder¹, lumber², lurch¹, stagger, stumble, totter
These verbs mean to move awkwardly or unsteadily: blundered about the dark room; bumbled in the door and knocked over a chair; floundered up the muddy path; an elephant lumbering along a trail; twisted her ankle and lurched home; staggered under the heavy weight; stumbled down the hall in a stupor; tottered across the finish line in exhaustion.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.