as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
I refuse to let that bungling incompetent insult me again
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fumbling
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
bungled the job the first time she tried to do it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bungling
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
When Souleymane rehearses his account, in an early scene, Barry admonishes him for blandly reciting (and often bungling) the false facts he’s been given.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bungling
Adjective
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What resulted is one of the most comic, counterproductive, and clumsy episodes in the long history of British efforts to deal with Ireland.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
29 Oct. 2025
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So, how did Musk go from a champion of the internet’s go-to reference resource to this clumsy attempt at killing it?—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Jones threw three interceptions while fumbling the ball three times - losing two - as Indianapolis picked up its second loss of the season.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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In Week 2, McCarthy played poorly, throwing two interceptions and fumbling three times.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Insert one very awkward stalemate between the pair here.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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Lisa Frankenstein centers on awkward and antisocial high schooler Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) after the violent demise of her mother.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That team pulled off this same trick, blowing the doors off all comers until slipping past USC.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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The space was stifling in the Louisiana heat, so fans were blowing for everyone inside.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There were festering family vendettas; botched forensics; staggering police failings.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
28 Oct. 2025
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La Costa Canyon lost to Mission Hills on a botched 2-point conversion attempt in the final 30 seconds, but stunned Carlsbad.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Spurs were inept and disjointed on Saturday, losing 1-0 against Chelsea in a rivalry the club don’t tolerate losing easily.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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And then there was January 6, an indisputable, if inept, effort to overturn an election.—
John M. Crisp,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The interview was one of Gille's first public appearances since a judge ruled him incompetent to stand trial in August.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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The thing that makes Slow Horses work so well — in addition to the action and pacing and farting — is that everyone on this show is incompetent in their own special little way.—
Brian Grubb,
Vulture,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Senior defensive tackle Braxton Fely’s radar is already up at the chance of facing another inexperienced QB.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Oct. 2025
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In doing so, Sonny mentors a talented but inexperienced rookie named Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) and brings an unconventional style of racing to the track.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bungling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bungling. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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