as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
the first time we tried to make a cake, we botched the job completely
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in jumble
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
this police procedural is basically a botch of plot elements stolen from other (and better) novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of botch
Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Activist investor Sardar Biglari started his eighth proxy fight against Cracker Barrel, seizing on the chain’s earnings miss, stock slide, and botched $700 million rebrand to argue that CEO Julie Masino and the board have destroyed shareholder value.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%.
‘An embrace of brutality’
Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for botch
Verb
Barney excelled at the technique, leaving Lily no choice but to flash him as a distraction to botch the final move.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Activist investor Sardar Biglari started his eighth proxy fight against Cracker Barrel, seizing on the chain’s earnings miss, stock slide, and botched $700 million rebrand to argue that CEO Julie Masino and the board have destroyed shareholder value.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
Those communication botches, whether on the break or in the half court, often include Towns, who once again vanished as a scorer.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%.
‘An embrace of brutality’
Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for botch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for botch
Verb
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After taking an early 3-0 lead and forcing the Ravens to punt on their opening series, Tahj Washington fumbled after a catch and Baltimore’s Alohi Gilman scooped it up and returned it to Miami’s 7, setting up Jackson’s first touchdown pass to Mark Andrews.—
Andre Fernandez,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
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In Week 2, McCarthy played poorly, throwing two interceptions and fumbling three times.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
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In jumbles of old stones that, to me, are barely legible as the remains of buildings, Cocon López could see the entire timeline of old Aké and how later people interacted with and repurposed what came before.—
Lizzie Wade,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 May 2025
Verb
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The crowd at the Rogers Centre nearly blew the roof off the place as Bichette jogged around the bases.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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That team pulled off this same trick, blowing the doors off all comers until slipping past USC.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Familial pairs choose the experimental merge for a variety of reasons, including a mother with Alzheimer’s linking her mind with her daughter; teenage brothers, one terminally ill; a man and his pregnant fiancée; a father and his addict daughter.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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Despite these drawbacks, dryland cotton offers notable sustainability advantages, including a smaller carbon footprint compared to other cotton varieties.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Gentleman thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) circles the prize while Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) bungles the pursuit with sublime obliviousness.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
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The misfiring of Smashing Machine comes in the wake of A24 bungling the opening of horror-comedy, Death of a Unicorn, back in the spring, which after a receptive world premiere at SXSW with Wednesday megastar, Jenna Ortega, tanked with a $5.7M opening and final $12.8M domestic.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Trey Smith is expected back in the lineup, and Mahomes has had a full assortment of weapons in the passing game since the returns of Xavier Worthy (injury) and Rashee Rice (suspension).—
Scott Chasen,
Kansas City Star,
2 Nov. 2025
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The brand’s advent calendar is a cookie lover’s dream, full of six varieties in an assortment of festive shapes that’ll go great with your morning cup of coffee or a mug of hot cocoa.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Daniella Segura,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
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The Chiefs have seen some of league’s premier running backs — such as Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs — and have met each challenge, preventing those elite players from ruining the defensive game plan.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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To open the big anniversary show, McEntire performed a decade-spanning medley, saluting one Song of the Year winner from each of the past six decades.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
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More than half are nurses, and the rest are a medley of employees who each occupy a special niche in the hospital.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Botch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/botch. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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