SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

bungling

adjective bun·gling \ ˈbəŋ-g(ə-)liŋ \

Definition of bungling

:clumsily awkward or inept

a bungling attempt at humor

… her complaints about bungling doctors and mean-spirited nurses …
—Michiko Kakutani

—

bunglingly

adverb

- a bunglingly inept investigation

First Known Use of bungling

1589

bungling Synonyms

Synonyms

botched, awkward, clumsy, fumbled, inept, inexpert, maladroit

Antonyms

adroit, deft, dexterous (also dextrous), facile

Related Words

amateur, amateurish, crude, green, incompetent, ineffectual, inefficient, inexperienced, unpolished, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful; careless, sloppy, tacky, tactless, undiplomatic; ill-advised, ineffective, ineffectual, misdirected, misguided

Near Antonyms

able, accomplished, adept, capable, clever, competent, consummate, crackerjack, expert, masterful, masterly, polished, professional, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented; diplomatic, easy, effortless, gracious, smooth, tactful

Learn More about bungling

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bungling Nglish: Translation of bungling for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up bungling? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

burke

play

to suppress quietly or indirectly

Words at Play

alt-59ea52ed7b96f

Learned Fools: On Names for Students

Where did we get 'freshman' and 'sophomore'?

alt-59e900afadac6

The Synonyms 'Discover' and 'Invent'

In the past, you could invent fruit.

alt-59e8c3440f453

I'll Have the Us(ual)

Shortening 'usual': easy to say, hard to spell

alt-59e77dc36c593

The Origins of 'Lobbyist'

From the front hallways to the back rooms

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless

Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals

Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots

The Exceptions Quiz III

Which of these things doesn't belong?

Take the quiz

knupfer-painting-solon-before-croesus

Forms of Government Quiz

Name that government! Or something like that.

Take the quiz

Name That Thing

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game