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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bungle
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2025
The same is true for the United States, which leads in oil and gas production but has bungled its position in clean energy thanks to political dysfunction.
—Wal Van Lierop, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
At the time, the district bungled its communication about Stacy's pay.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
By the time Corbin filed a complaint to the Florida Bar on July 17, 2023, Stealth Supply had filed a complaint to the Florida Bar that Mullins bungled, then abandoned their case.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bungle
Noun
In a countersuit, Geragos, who denied any wrongdoing, claimed that the settlement was bungled because of negligence by Franklin’s representatives.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2025
The same is true for the United States, which leads in oil and gas production but has bungled its position in clean energy thanks to political dysfunction.
—Wal Van Lierop, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
At the time, the district bungled its communication about Stacy's pay.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
By the time Corbin filed a complaint to the Florida Bar on July 17, 2023, Stealth Supply had filed a complaint to the Florida Bar that Mullins bungled, then abandoned their case.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bungle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bungle
Verb
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Jaylen Wright fumbled on a hit from safety John Saunders Jr.... Grayson Murphy sacked Wilson, who nevertheless threw the ball to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a 30 yard TD pass...—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
2 Aug. 2025
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Playing their third road game in five days, the expansion team nearly fumbled a 17-point, first-half lead but got enough stops down the stretch to escape with a 68-67 win over the Washington Mystics on Thursday.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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The 10-member panel’s first time out, in 2022, was a total botch, as the process was unconstitutionally hijacked by Democrats in the Legislature until it was stopped by the state’s highest court.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2025
Verb
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The foghorn blew every 30 seconds and pelicans sailed above, doing a quick half corkscrew turn before diving.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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United’s prospective new owner, Michael Knighton, was on the pitch beforehand, ball-juggling and blowing kisses to the crowd, and Neil Webb smashed one in from 25 yards on his debut — wild stuff, honestly (yeah, get on with it, Grandad).—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 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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Her Altadena home and the surrounding community were ruined by the Eaton wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles in January.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
14 Aug. 2025
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But a sewer backup during this weekend's historic flood ruined 60 of the backpacks, Maya Bell reports.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Perkins dubbed this new gang of comedy talent the ‘Brit Art’ crew and reflected on how the pandemic stymied this kind of collaboration.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
14 Aug. 2025
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Corll tortured, raped and killed at least 28 boys and young men between the ages of 13 and 20 in a rash of crimes dubbed the Houston Mass Murders.—
Nicole Acosta,
People.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bungle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bungle. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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