Shambling

Shambling describes a clumsy, awkward, or ungainly manner of walking or moving. It often implies a lack of grace, control, or coordination, and can be associated with tiredness, injury, or a lack of urgency. It is often used to depict a slow, unsteady gait, where the body appears somewhat lopsided or off-balance. The word evokes a sense of unease or discomfort, potentially suggesting a vulnerability in the subject due to lack of balance. It's the physical manifestation of weakness, age, or an unsettling state.

Shambling meaning with examples

• The old man, burdened with age and a heavy bag, began to trudge towards the door. His shambling gait gave the impression that he was unsure whether he would reach the threshold before it all ended. He seemed to struggle to keep up, each step a struggle. The long walk turned into a test of his body.
• Emerging from the dense forest, the injured deer moved with a shambling hobble, its leg dragging slightly on the ground. The broken movement of his body clearly showed pain, making it look as though he were barely hanging onto consciousness. Its survival was in serious doubt given its inability to flee predators quickly.
• Exhausted after a long day, she walked home with a shambling tiredness that made her feet drag. All of her energy seemed to have been drained by her work. She could barely focus or move and wished to lie on her bed immediately; her home was a beacon.
• The zombie in the horror film moved in a shambling pursuit, his arms outstretched and moaning towards his targets. The lack of control caused him to weave and stagger which made him all the more unsettling. Each step the animated corpse took filled viewers with dread.
• He stumbled through the crowd with a shambling air, clearly disoriented and slightly drunk. His speech was slurred, and he kept bumping into people. His friends attempted to escort him away but he resisted, making him stumble further, attracting more negative attention.