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How do you describe the following kind of 'search' in one word?

A blind man searching for a faucet in a room

OR

A normal man searching for a faucet in a dark room

Is it fumbling, scouring, scouting, scrounging, or something else?

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  • I've got to go for fumbling (well, I would, wouldn't I? :) According to Google Books, there are 9 instances of groped for the alarm, but "About 1,910 results" for fumbled for the alarm, and I defy anyone to claim they mean slightly different things.
    – FumbleFingers
    Jan 2, 2015 at 16:24
  • I think Fumbling is more suited for this context
    – hfatahi
    Jan 2, 2015 at 16:27

3 Answers 3

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To grope: (from TFD)

  • (usually foll by: for) to feel or search about uncertainly (for something) with the hands

  • to search for something by reaching or touching usually with your fingers in an awkward way

  • to move forward carefully by putting your hands in front of you so that you can feel anything that blocks you

  • he groped for the light switch in the dark room
  • she groped for the cell phone in her purse.

or:

feel around (for someone or something) and feel about(for someone or something):

  • to try to find someone or something by feel [rather than sight]. He felt around for the soap in the bathtub. She felt about for the dog at the foot of the bed, but it wasn't there. Gerald felt about for a pencil.
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    I would be careful about using grope. If the context is clear (i.e. A man was groping about in the dark for a faucet) then you won't have a problem. But also carries a negative connotation associated with sexual harassment (i.e. He groped her and was sued for sexual harassment).
    – Nick2253
    Jan 2, 2015 at 16:07
  • Well, context is important, but I don't think you can easily misunderstand the sentences.
    – user66974
    Jan 2, 2015 at 16:10
  • Consider the paired sentences: "It was dark. He was groping." That will immediately conjure a negative connotation for most readers.
    – Nick2253
    Jan 2, 2015 at 16:11
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    @Nick2253 The "kind of search" specified in the OP most certainly has an object, so you would be groping for that object, not just groping.
    – David K
    Jan 2, 2015 at 16:14
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    @DavidK "Ray Charles is groping all about." could definitely be ambiguous. :)
    – Nick2253
    Jan 2, 2015 at 16:24
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The word you've narrowed down appears to be the best fit- fumble - “He fumbled towards the door”

  • feel about uncertainly or blindly

  • handle clumsily (metaphorically)

However, fumbling is an uncoordinated movement that can involve your entire body, not just your hands.

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What if your movements weren't quite as spastic? What if the blind man had been in that bathroom a thousand times? What if the situation called for caution?

"Within the total darkness of the room, he calculated the location of the live socket and installed a bulb."

"Unencumbered by the darkness, the blind man deftly negotiated the staircase."

(blind man/deft - kinda cute... n'est pas?)

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