as in fumbled
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 bungled
The Chiefs bungled it in more ways than one, more than that fourth-down call, even if the most glaring is the decision to settle for three.
—
Sam McDowell 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025
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
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
At the time, the district bungled its communication about Stacy's pay.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bungled
Sam McDowell 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025
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
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
At the time, the district bungled its communication about Stacy's pay.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bungled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bungled
Verb
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Payton fumbled on the second play from scrimmage, and the Patriots recovered at the Bears' 19-yard line.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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To do so, the Patriots must keep enough heat off Drake Maye, who has taken 10 sacks and fumbled six times in the playoffs.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The murders of three tourists in Kissimmee over the weekend has now become fodder for Florida’s attorney general to again attack Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell, claiming her office botched an earlier case against the suspect.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Jan. 2026
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Two-time Olympian Jason Brown entered Saturday’s free skate in third but botched nearly every jump of his long program and tumbled to eighth.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 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
Cite this Entry
“Bungled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bungled. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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