as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
the first time we tried to make a cake, we botched the job completely
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in jumble
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
this police procedural is basically a botch of plot elements stolen from other (and better) novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of botch
Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
But in April, an earlier New Glenn flight botched deploying an AST satellite at the correct orbit, resulting in its demise.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
Those communication botches, whether on the break or in the half court, often include Towns, who once again vanished as a scorer.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for botch
Verb
Concurrently, the Met botch their way through their investigation, diverting all their attention to an entirely innocent man while ignoring the serial offender under their nose.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
But in April, an earlier New Glenn flight botched deploying an AST satellite at the correct orbit, resulting in its demise.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
Noun
The 10-member panel’s first time out, in 2022, was a total botch, as the process was unconstitutionally hijacked by Democrats in the Legislature until it was stopped by the state’s highest court.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
Those communication botches, whether on the break or in the half court, often include Towns, who once again vanished as a scorer.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for botch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for botch
Verb
-
Maye tossed eight interceptions and fumbled eight times last season.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
-
Dart fumbled a shotgun snap on the goal line in a situational period later in the practice.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
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Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Both teams are on the field and ready to play as the whistle blows to begin the first half of what should be some exciting soccer here today.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
17 June 2026
-
Referee Nicolae Rainea blows his whistle.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Noun
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That leaves a lot of room for a variety of outcomes, depending on how the additional 12 Republicans vote.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Swift covered a variety of topics while speaking with Colbert, from her Kansas City Chiefs star fiancé Travis Kelce being the love of her life to getting her masters back.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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For now, the press still sometimes bungled his name as Harry.—
Eric Moskowitz,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who polled at 5% in the CBS survey, accused Becerra of bungling the federal government’s response to COVID-19, mpox and the influx in child migrants under former President Joe Biden.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Each sister influenced a different section of the assortment, which Quay developed to reflect their individual styles while still reading as one family offering.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
14 June 2026
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Looking ahead Beyond the fidgets that make up the majority of their inventory, Victoria Essie Studio still sells an assortment of earrings and homewares like trinket dishes and coasters.—
Jennifer Liu
Valentina Duarte,
CNBC,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Historically, barrels of Madeira spent months crossing tropical oceans aboard ships, and merchants realized that the heat actually improved the wine rather than ruining it.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
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Kenny Loggins stopped by The Tonight Show to showcase a medley of his songs on classroom instruments alongside Jimmy Fallon and the Roots.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
11 June 2026
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Plus a white sangria mixed with a medley of berries (Perini Ranch Steakhouse Cocktails again), thanks to resident bartender Chris Morocco.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Botch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/botch. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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