bungle 1 of 2

verb

ˈbəŋ-gəl How to pronounce bungle (audio)
Definition of bunglenext
as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way bungled the job the first time she tried to do it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bungle

2 of 2

noun

as in botch

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bungle
Verb
Sandusky has tried almost nonstop since his sentencing to have his June 22, 2012, conviction overturned, arguing first that his lawyers bungled the case. — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026 On Monday, a judge on Staten Island temporarily blocked the city from implementing the tax due to a lawsuit brought by a group of homeowners who allege the city bungled the rollout of the tax. — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
With suspiciously fortuitous timing, Andy is snapped up as Runway’s new features editor—a move that Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman), the Si Newhouse-esque head of Elias-Clarke, hopes will salvage what remains of the publication’s credibility in the wake of Miranda’s bungle. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026 In addition to Robinhood’s Platinum card, there is Citi’s $695-per-year Strata Elite, whose debut last year was marred by an application-process bungle that saw the bank freeze thousands of accounts—but which has proved popular nonetheless. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bungle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bungle
  1. fumble
  2. botch
  3. blow
  4. bobble
  5. ruin
  6. dub
Verb
  • Specifically, Nico Iamaleava struggled, fumbling once and throwing interceptions to Oregon’s Koi Perich and Jerry Mixon.
    — Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Irving scored his second touchdown of the game to further the Bucs’ lead, and Prescott wouldn’t even get the ball back after KaVontae Turpin fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which Tampa Bay recovered.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of fumble
Noun
  • Of course this was a calculated power play, not a bureaucratic botch.
    — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
  • During last week's WWE SmackDown, a series of mistakes and botches drew harsh criticism from fans.
    — Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Definition of botch
Verb
  • But the administration blew past a Sunday evening deadline and ran two of the ads into the early hours of Monday, advertising data from AdImpact shows.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Commanders scored a touchdown two minutes into the game and never trailed, yet still blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of blow
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the Dodgers added two more insurance runs in the fifth with a solo homer from Ohtani, a double from Pages and a couple of defensive bobbles by the Rockies.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Others secured the football, either cleanly or after a brief bobble.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of bobble
Verb
  • Artificial, though, ends with a scene that convincingly conveys the extent to which AI will ruin all our lives.
    — Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Civic, before it was smashed and ruined, had been a private world, an extension of myself.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • The report focused on two buildings of the facility dubbed East and West.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Defendants Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar — dubbed the Cornell 7 online — have all denied wrongdoing.
    — Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of dub

Browse Nearby Words

bunging up
bungle
bungled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bungle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bungle. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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