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
Relevance
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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For starters, even at 4 mm by 4 mm, the Utah array would be too big and clumsy a hunk of hardware for Science to implant in the eye or Synchron to thread through a vein.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
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
Verb
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Reclaim your power, even if that means fumbling your way through some uncomfortable convos or realizations.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
9 Nov. 2025
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With its easy-to-slip-on design and timeless silhouette, this pair of boots is perfect for travelers who dread fumbling with laces during the chaotic airport security screenings.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The rise of digital payment systems has made tipping both easier and more awkward, especially when prompts appear at counters, kiosks and drive-thru windows.—
Peter Burke,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Use this a couple of times a week for smoother, brighter skin (without getting sunburnt and sand in awkward places).—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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What To Know In , the Kuskokwim Delta Coast and Nunivak Island are expected to see blowing snow and strong southeasterly winds from early Sunday morning through the afternoon.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Not that there’s a direct cause and effect between botched screens and not knowing where you’re supposed to line up shortly after them, but the point is that far too often this season, the Packers have looked disheveled or inept on offense, given their talent on that side of the ball.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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As minister of economy and the public face of unpopular government policies that ended up impoverishing the population further – including a botched monetary reform in 2021 that fueled unprecedented levels of inflation – Gil’s demise was cheered by many inside Cuba.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Its political class is smug, self-entitled, and has proved inept at improving the quality of the lives of Nigerians.—
Kingsley Moghalu,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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Talking about poop and blackheads might seem socially inept, but it’s calculated.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Under California law, people who are found incompetent to stand trial must be sent to a state hospital or secure mental health care facility.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
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He was found to be incompetent to face the charge in August 2023, and later civilly committed for a mental illness.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Jokic didn’t overtake Jamal Murray as Denver’s leading scorer until their seventh game of the season, after a 33-point performance Wednesday against a Miami Heat frontcourt that was woefully undersized and inexperienced the instant Bam Adebayo exited with a foot injury.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
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Henderson has struggled in that role as a rookie, and Jennings is inexperienced at the pro level.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bungling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bungling. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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