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
Editorial Board, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
He also was accused of botching medical procedures and causing animals to suffer.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
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
Yet the country’s second most-populous city has managed to botch the process of reviewing what went wrong.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
He also was accused of botching medical procedures and causing animals to suffer.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
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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But Illinois is at risk of fumbling this opportunity.—
Susana A. Mendoza,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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Though the darkness of the material never swamps the comedy, a balance McGee calibrated deliberately — less interested in the whodunit than in the women fumbling through it.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
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The result also spotlights conference championships’ awkward fit in the current system, particularly given the fact that conference expansion has led to jumbles atop each league’s standings.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Negotiators from the seven states along the Colorado River blew past yet another federal deadline over the weekend without reaching a compromise on how to share its water — even as this winter’s dismal snowpack could spell immediate disaster for the river system.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
17 Feb. 2026
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Snow flurries are blowing at an angle, the sky is a leaden grey, and visibility is poor.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The laws have been challenged by families representing a variety of religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and clergy, in addition to nonreligious families.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
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Cardenas this month opened a new hibachi business, Hibachi La Ceiba, where the main dishes are made with his own house made teriyaki that comes in sweet or spicy varieties and contains a little less salt than most teriyaki.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Andrew Cunanan, and Beanie Feldstein’s wide-eyed Monica Lewinsky, a performance that might have achieved icon status had Disney not bungled the FX on Hulu rollout.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
12 Feb. 2026
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Hollywood stars would do well to worry less about bungling the teleprompter and more about being true to their heart.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Nearby is Fwala, a Qatari dialect word for a dessert assortment served to guests.—
Rachel Morris,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Feb. 2026
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Besides a full assortment of hats, the store stocks Western apparel, cowboy boots, and handmade leather items.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Top awards executive Lisa Taback had her luggage ruined as well.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
22 Feb. 2026
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That’s when my Samsonite Paralux Carry-on ruined me for all other take-aboard luggage.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Westwood girls 200-yard medley team of NamAnh Truong, Sarah Padurean, Ariya Ferron and Leah Zeng earned a bronze medal in the 200 medley relay.—
Rick Cantu,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
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The wildflower medley along Palo Verde often includes a supporting cast of fairy duster, blue phacelia, evening primrose, yellow throat gilia and cream cups, to go along with the poppies, lupines and brittles.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Botch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/botch. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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