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
Dan Pompei, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Two-time Olympian Jason Brown entered Saturday’s free skate in third but botched nearly every jump of his long program and tumbled to eighth.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 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
How improbable was Romeo Doubs botching an onside kick?
—Dan Pompei, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Two-time Olympian Jason Brown entered Saturday’s free skate in third but botched nearly every jump of his long program and tumbled to eighth.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 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 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
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The rest of the team was also fumbling, and everyone but Edwards had struggled to score.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Verb
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But aerospace engineers at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have discovered a material that blows those two out of the water with nearly thrice the thermal conductivity.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The shuttle just suddenly blew apart.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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First found in the 1930s, this interpretation was later validated by a wide variety of laboratory experiments.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
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The menu has shifted to more small plates and skewers, with meats like chicken, shrimp, fish and wagyu beef and a variety of different vegetables.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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With an 11-0 start for the first time since the 1990s, the Aggies bungled the last two games of the season losing to Texas in Rivalry Week and Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoffs.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
22 Jan. 2026
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And the quarterback position heading into the 2025 campaign was bungled, particularly considering the 14-win season Minnesota experienced in 2024 and the quality of the roster outside of the most important position this fall.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Who’s Next trade show continued to spread its wings, leaning further into demand for broader assortments as retailers seek opportunities to up the lifestyle quotient in stores and cultivate a community vibe that brings consumers back time after time.—
Alex Wynne,
Footwear News,
26 Jan. 2026
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In states like Florida that have robust school-choice programs, funding is beginning to follow students to a much wider assortment of learning environments.—
Kerry McDonald,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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To say much more would be to ruin the wild twists and turns that unfold as the night marches onward.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Like last year, all eight nominees in the Best New Artist category will collaborate on a medley.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
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This year’s nominees for best new artist—Olivia Dean, Katseye, the Marías, Addison Rae, Sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young—will all be performing a medley, continuing a beloved tradition that began last year.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Botch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/botch. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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