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
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2026
Chapek bungled the fallout, and as Disney’s business got hammered by the pandemic, the board ultimately brought Iger back in to steady the ship.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bungle
Verb
The pair wasn’t done with its bungling yet.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2026
Chapek bungled the fallout, and as Disney’s business got hammered by the pandemic, the board ultimately brought Iger back in to steady the ship.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for bungle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bungle
Verb
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If the creditor fumbles the process, then an otherwise valid and collectible debt may be barred.—
Virginia Hammerle,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Since the first release in December, critics have accused the administration of fumbling the rollout and withholding too many documents.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
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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Wind shear, which occurs when winds blow at different speeds and/or directions with height, acts as an impediment to fledgling tropical storms and hurricanes.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
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There's also a short clip of Cyrus onstage as Hannah with a band, blowing a kiss to a crowd as confetti falls around her.—
Mary Pat Thompson,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But the experience includes a few bobbles—call them growing pains.—
Brent Rose,
Outside,
28 Feb. 2026
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Some noticeable opening night wobbles and bobbles only served to prove that point.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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People suffer and the country becomes ruined.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Anti-Chafe Stick With sweaty bodies and lots of walking often comes chafing, something that can ruin a day in a theme park faster than a thunderstorm.—
Terri Peters,
Parents,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Also dubbed as the balloon jean, barrel hems are intentionally curved–roomy through the leg with a subtler taper and cinch at the ankle.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The Canadian engineer dubbed his creation BlackFly and spent years working on it in secret.—
The Los Angeles Times,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bungle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bungle. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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