as in fumbling
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 booting
Those still using a 486 for one reason or another will still be able to run older Linux kernels and vintage operating systems—running old software without emulation or virtualization is one of the few reasons to keep booting up hardware this old.
—
Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2026
Mission specialist Christina Koch noted an issue with booting up the part of Orion’s waste management system that collects urine.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
Eldridge expressed disdain for booting a routine grounder in the seventh, but rookie manager Tony Vitello came away impressed with the top prospect’s effort on defense.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Strom added that the offering outreach to homeless people with the threat of booting them and throwing their belongings out is counterproductive.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
In fact, the IOC might consider booting the sport altogether in June.
—Dana Oneil, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Here’s what audiences should know before booting up their screens.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
For some, such as Platner, who supports Medicare for All, that also means booting out the current congressional leaders, who critics accuse of being too cozy with donors.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Gonzalez bounced back on his next attempt, booting a 52-yarder to put the Falcons up 17-14 as time expired in the third quarter.
—CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2026
Mission specialist Christina Koch noted an issue with booting up the part of Orion’s waste management system that collects urine.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
Eldridge expressed disdain for booting a routine grounder in the seventh, but rookie manager Tony Vitello came away impressed with the top prospect’s effort on defense.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Strom added that the offering outreach to homeless people with the threat of booting them and throwing their belongings out is counterproductive.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
In fact, the IOC might consider booting the sport altogether in June.
—Dana Oneil, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Here’s what audiences should know before booting up their screens.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
For some, such as Platner, who supports Medicare for All, that also means booting out the current congressional leaders, who critics accuse of being too cozy with donors.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Gonzalez bounced back on his next attempt, booting a 52-yarder to put the Falcons up 17-14 as time expired in the third quarter.
—CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for booting
Verb
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With the title in their grasp, the Ducks have greased up their fingers, fumbling into a four-game winless slump.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
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Last season’s Detroit Tigers endured the worst divisional collapse in history, fumbling an AL Central lead that reached 15 1/2 games in July.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
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The city did not adopt its own grocery tax to replace it, blowing a roughly $80 million hole in its budget.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And in Ashley and Marsha's texts about murdering Harold, there was a reference to Ty.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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Police arrested Bowen, 40, on Wednesday, charged with murdering his wife in their Coral Springs home and tampering with evidence.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Booting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/booting. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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