as in fumbles
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 bungles
Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Gentleman thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) circles the prize while Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) bungles the pursuit with sublime obliviousness.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bungles
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
-
Sonny feels like a departure; unlike Bernthal’s mercenaries, Sonny fumbles with his gun, has a bleeding heart, and lays his vulnerabilities bare.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
During last week's WWE SmackDown, a series of mistakes and botches drew harsh criticism from fans.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But if all of America’s trading partners, or former trading partners, are heading into crisis, the crisis blows back.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Most notably, Turkey and Greece came to blows several times, usually over their still-unresolved territorial conflict over Cyprus in the Mediterranean.—
Carla Martinez Machain,
The Conversation,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the experience includes a few bobbles—call them growing pains.—
Brent Rose,
Outside,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Some noticeable opening night wobbles and bobbles only served to prove that point.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bungles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bungles. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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