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
The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Reyes read the names of those killed in the next-door classroom too, before getting to 10 who survived the attack and botched law enforcement response.
—Matthew J. Friedman, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2025
But the Heat botched the final possession and couldn’t close the deal.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for botched
Adjective
My lasting memory is NBC’s unflinching focus on Notre Dame’s Tyler Buchner, whose botched PAT hold proved to be the difference, as Marcel Reed marched the Aggies down for the winning touchdown.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Reyes read the names of those killed in the next-door classroom too, before getting to 10 who survived the attack and botched law enforcement response.
—Matthew J. Friedman, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
Pittsburgh had five plays of more than 25 yards, including Rodgers’ 38-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Warren, where the Ravens totally botched their coverage, leading to middle linebacker Roquan Smith yelling out toward the sideline in frustration.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2025
But the Heat botched the final possession and couldn’t close the deal.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for botched
Recent Examples of Synonyms for botched
Adjective
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The clumsy, confusing rollout of the fees certainly didn’t help — as many residents who were promised a locals discount couldn’t figure out how to tap that benefit.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
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Each additional finger adds mass, increasing the chances that fingers will collide, and making overall movement more clumsy.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Denver recovered the ensuing onside kick, but, alas, on the next play, Steve Sewell fumbled the ball back to Buffalo.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
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Maye finished 16 of 27 for 179 yards but had an interception and fumbled four times, losing two in cold conditions with snow and rain falling throughout the game.—
Kyle Hightower,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Scenes around the dinner table are awkward to say the least, but Meg has a big supporter in bestie Penny (Sophia Torres) and a burning desire to bring this show to life against all odds.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
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All four athletes stood together, smiling for photos through an undeniably awkward situation.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
26 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
Verb
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In a December meeting, commissioners acknowledged customers’ frustrations, but added that the winds blew down hundreds of power lines onto the dry landscape.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
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Others banged on pots and pans and drums, blew whistles and honked car horns.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Nothing is worse than a garment getting thrown into the washer and ruined by mistake.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
19 Jan. 2026
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McCarthyism, as the movement became known, ruined the reputations and destroyed the careers of hundreds of innocent people.—
Chris John Amorosino,
Hartford Courant,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Botched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/botched. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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