as in fumbled
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
he booted the answer of what should have been an easy question
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Recent Examples of booted
Scott Eells | Bloomberg | Getty Images Networking hardware maker Ciena will join the S&P 500, returning to the benchmark after getting booted 17 years ago.
—
Jordan Novet, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026
Duran booted a water bottle on his way down the tunnel while manager Unai Emery was enraged by Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall putting his finger to his lips and telling the Spaniard to be quiet.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Following his legal trouble, Chacon was booted from his agency and lost out on a role in an upcoming movie, per Deadline.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026
The Bills could get booted early by a Jags squad peaking at exactly the right moment.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
She nearly got booted during the first roundtable vote, a close call that seemed to leave her shaken.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
In post-production, the players must keep all details tight-lipped — or they might be booted off, per season 3 winner Dolores Catania.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
The theater — which turns 100 years old this year — was the longtime home of the Miami Film Festival and other film festivals until the city booted the college from the premises in 2022.
—Daniel Rivero, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Special teams surface again Defensive tackle Zach Sieler blocked a 38-yard field goal attempt shortly before Patterson booted a 52-yard field goal.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
Jordan Novet, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026
Duran booted a water bottle on his way down the tunnel while manager Unai Emery was enraged by Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall putting his finger to his lips and telling the Spaniard to be quiet.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Following his legal trouble, Chacon was booted from his agency and lost out on a role in an upcoming movie, per Deadline.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026
The Bills could get booted early by a Jags squad peaking at exactly the right moment.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
She nearly got booted during the first roundtable vote, a close call that seemed to leave her shaken.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
In post-production, the players must keep all details tight-lipped — or they might be booted off, per season 3 winner Dolores Catania.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
The theater — which turns 100 years old this year — was the longtime home of the Miami Film Festival and other film festivals until the city booted the college from the premises in 2022.
—Daniel Rivero, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Special teams surface again Defensive tackle Zach Sieler blocked a 38-yard field goal attempt shortly before Patterson booted a 52-yard field goal.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booted
Verb
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But Jaylen Petty fumbled the outlet pass after the steal, and UCF (17-4, 6-3 Big 12) recovered to set up Fulks' jumper to go up by two possessions.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
-
But Jaylen Petty fumbled the outlet pass after the steal, and UCF (17-4, 6-3 Big 12) recovered to set up Fulks’ jumper to go up by two possessions.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Organizers handed out plastic whistles, which participants blew as music blared from a van.—
Colleen Barry,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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When the full-time whistle blew at the Alinma Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Matthias Jaissle was wild-eyed.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Note Pro also has excellent battery life, able to record 30 hours of audio continuously on a charge in what’s dubbed Enhanced Mode.—
Dwight Silverman,
Houston Chronicle,
31 Jan. 2026
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New York may be dubbed the city that never sleeps, but Los Angeles gives it a run for its money—at least during Grammys weekend.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Vogue,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Booted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booted. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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