bungle

verb

bun·​gle ˈbəŋ-gəl 

bungled; bungling ˈbəŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to act or work clumsily and awkwardly

bungled badly in the campaign

transitive verb

: mishandle, botch

bungle a job

bungled the investigation

bungle noun

bungler

ˈbəŋ-g(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms

• fumble
• blow
• botch
• ruin
• dub

Examples of bungle in a Sentence

The government bungled badly in planning the campaign.

bungled the job the first time she tried to do it

Recent Examples on the Web

One day, calling kids up to get pizza for a class lunch, the teacher repeatedly and purposely bungled her name. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025

Zach Johnson has spent the past two years in the awkward air of bungling the Americans’ 2023 trip to Rome. —Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025

But Denver bungled five — five — chances to extend their lead to two scores in the second half after taking resounding control of the game in the second half. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025

When Souleymane rehearses his account, in an early scene, Barry admonishes him for blandly reciting (and often bungling) the false facts he’s been given. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Icelandic banga to hammer

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for bungle

• antifungal
• fungal
• jungle

Kids Definition

bungle

verb

bun·​gle ˈbəŋ-gəl 

bungled; bungling -g(ə-)liŋ 

: to act, do, make, or work badly

bungle a job

bungle noun

bungler

-g(ə-)ler 

noun