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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of botched
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
At this point, at a minimum, because of how botched this was, this should be undetermined.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The former Oregon product threw an egregious pick-six and botched a handoff.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for botched
Adjective
After the botched attempt on Tatiana’s life, Green fled in his truck.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
At this point, at a minimum, because of how botched this was, this should be undetermined.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
And according to Judge Pugh, the IRS basically botched every one of those things.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The former Oregon product threw an egregious pick-six and botched a handoff.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for botched
Recent Examples of Synonyms for botched
Adjective
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Actually, Alma does suffer from ulcers, which cause her extraordinary stomach pain and vomiting at inconvenient moments, and cause viewers to wonder not if but when such clumsy symbolic traits will be trotted out in the future.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
9 Oct. 2025
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There had to be an element of her that was sort of clumsy.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Saints, Panthers Arizona somehow turned an interception into a touchdown for their opponent and fumbled away another sure touchdown in a bad, bad loss on Sunday.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Demercado is the latest in a recent line of NFL players who have fumbled the ball just short of the goal line.—
Anne Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That’s six games without a goal now for their new striker, who still looks awkward in this side.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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The onion on top is a little awkward to cut and to eat, so think of this as a knife-and-fork cornbread.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One day, calling kids up to get pizza for a class lunch, the teacher repeatedly and purposely bungled her name.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
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But Denver bungled five — five — chances to extend their lead to two scores in the second half after taking resounding control of the game in the second half.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Dart blew past Baun with a subtle juke, then raced untouched into the end zone.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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That timeline handily beat the previous record of four years to develop a new vaccine and blew a more typical development timeline of a decade or more out of the water.—
Merrill Fabry,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a post on Reddit's Wedding Drama forum, the bride explained the stressful situation that nearly ruined her nuptials.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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After his umpteenth comeback, director Robert Altman almost immediately ruined his career again with this tepid, unwieldy multicharacter satire of the fashion world.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Botched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/botched. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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