as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
a botched attempt to mend relations with our disaffected European allies
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fumbled
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of botched
Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 5 Feb. 2025
The project unspools as a botched attempt to tackle one of America’s most infamous unsolved mysteries, whose details were memorably chronicled in David Fincher’s outstanding 2007 thriller, Zodiac.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025
Schorn says authorities do not believe Patty was killed in a botched robbery.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC News, 18 Jan. 2025
Trump tanked the economy with his trade wars and his botched pandemic response.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for botched
Adjective
Sonos had a horrible 2024, thanks to a botched app update that culminated in the resignation of its CEO.
—Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 5 Feb. 2025
The project unspools as a botched attempt to tackle one of America’s most infamous unsolved mysteries, whose details were memorably chronicled in David Fincher’s outstanding 2007 thriller, Zodiac.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025
Schorn says authorities do not believe Patty was killed in a botched robbery.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC News, 18 Jan. 2025
Trump tanked the economy with his trade wars and his botched pandemic response.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for botched
Recent Examples of Synonyms for botched
Adjective
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These transitions, between past and present, are sometimes clumsy but sometimes genuinely sweet, as with an old letter that near-simultaneously is dictated and written, received and read, and finally rediscovered (and only partially understood) in the 21st century.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
27 May 2025
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Wildlife officials helped remove a black bear found hanging out in the kitchen of a Kentucky home after an impressive, yet clumsy break-in, photos show.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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From awkward silences to unresolved tensions, most of us would rather scroll, text, or disappear than risk a moment of raw, honest connection.—
Margie Warrell,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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The feelings of being sweaty, red-faced and kind of awkward is very familiar to me.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Verb
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And then in Joker 2, some people complained that the movie was ruined by the images on the screen and the sounds that accompanied them.—
Lexy Perez,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Jan. 2025
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Believing their beloved team already ruined mock drafting for the next two months, New York Giants fans probably hope for a loss against a Philadelphia Eagles team expected to rest starters Sunday.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
4 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Botched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/botched. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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