as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
bungled the job the first time she tried to do it
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Recent Examples of bungle
Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
Devan Coggan, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Whither Pluto? One of the biggest TV-industry crimes of the current decade has been how the last couple of regimes at Paramount have bungled their ownership of free streamer Pluto TV.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bungle
Verb
The admission is just the latest bungle from New York’s beleaguered legal marijuana program, which has been hamstrung by legal challenges, a slow rollout and gaps in the law that allowed an illicit market to flourish.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
Too bad 2016's epic nonstarter bungles its smash-up with spinoff teases, Iron Man 2's government-oversight plot, and whatever Lois Lane (Amy Adams) is doing with that bullet.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Whither Pluto? One of the biggest TV-industry crimes of the current decade has been how the last couple of regimes at Paramount have bungled their ownership of free streamer Pluto TV.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bungle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bungle
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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After multiple punts, Keon Coleman, Allen’s trusty wide receiver, uncharacteristically fumbled later in the first quarter as well.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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During last week's WWE SmackDown, a series of mistakes and botches drew harsh criticism from fans.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
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This might seem like a minor quibble, but the fact that the new movie botches the whole wait-what-did-they-actually-do-last-summer thing speaks to a prevailing sense of laziness.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 July 2025
Verb
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Grealish, no longer prone, headed, just like Moyes, to the South Stand and appeared to blow a kiss to adoring fans.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Apparently, Grier forgot his own words, because the lines that the Dolphins have built are collectively their worst this decade, something evident in a crushing 27-24 loss to Carolina, a game in which Miami blew a 17-0 lead.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Yastremska decorated her Yonex bag with cute furry bobbles and ribbons in Ukrainian flag colors.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
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During the Monday, June 16, episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the actress and producer, 61, appeared in a black Stella McCartney suit covered with 3D metallic bobbles.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Or pursue the rancid criminal element across the galaxy as a bounty hunter, making your fortune by ruining bad guys' lives.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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Nothing ruins a trip faster than your suitcase not showing up at baggage claim, right?—
Emily Belfiore,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The three dubbed themselves PPG on their season and ended up dressing as the real Powerpuff Girls for Halloween 2024.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
1 Oct. 2025
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Minnesota Wild players, who parked in the players’ garage just off the road temporarily dubbed W 97th Street, are delighted to see their comrade for effectively the next nine years.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bungle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bungle. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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