as in blunderer
someone who bungles an effort
the newest intern on the campaign is a butcher when it comes to writing press releases
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to slaughter
to kill on a large scale
the barbarians butchered the monks in the monasteries without mercy
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
the new piano student butchered the sonatina
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of butcher
Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
Becoming a master of quadruple jumps that no one else can land, rising with all the ease of a young Michael Jordan—before landing on a pair of butcher knives, on ice.
—Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Evan Bush, NBC news, 14 Jan. 2026
Bavette is known for its high-quality meats sourced from small producers and butchered in-house.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for butcher
Noun
High-income neighborhoods had farmers markets and bespoke butchers, but poor ones remained food deserts.
—Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
Becoming a master of quadruple jumps that no one else can land, rising with all the ease of a young Michael Jordan—before landing on a pair of butcher knives, on ice.
—Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
Because the puppies were found near a site where ancient humans had butchered woolly mammoths, researchers had wondered whether they might be domesticated dogs, as opposed to wolves.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 14 Jan. 2026
Bavette is known for its high-quality meats sourced from small producers and butchered in-house.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for butcher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butcher
Verb
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In Jonathan Miles’s novella, a man is tasked with saving an island sanctuary by slaughtering thousands of goats.—
Ron Charles,
Washington Post,
4 Feb. 2026
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The Kurds have been marginalized, persecuted and slaughtered by the likes of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and before those states existed, the Ottoman Empire.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Do not fumble this opportunity to select a governor that is a true progressive candidate.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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In turn, the Heat fumbled it away.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Negotiators from the seven states along the Colorado River blew past yet another federal deadline over the weekend without reaching a compromise on how to share its water — even as this winter’s dismal snowpack could spell immediate disaster for the river system.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
17 Feb. 2026
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Snow flurries are blowing at an angle, the sky is a leaden grey, and visibility is poor.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The development appears to confirm accusations from Navalny’s widow and others that he was murdered by Russian authorities seeking to eliminate a threat to President Vladimir Putin.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Feb. 2026
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Al-Qaeda murdered nearly 3,000 Americans on 9/11.—
Josef Joffe,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Still, blues fans may delight at seeing close-ups of vintage album covers of greats like Lonnie Johnson or Blind Lemon Jefferson, while Elvis fanatics will recognize the King’s 1957 movie musical, Loving You, which Cook watches dubbed in German at Vienna’s Kinokulturhaus.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
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The Hermon’s burger is dubbed the Ode to Chez cheeseburger as a not-so-subtle nod to the restaurant that never was.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The car was mangled beyond recognition.—
Darius Johnson,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
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Francisco Carmona, Córdoba’s fire chief, told Spanish national radio RNE that one of the trains was badly mangled, with at least four wagons off the rails.—
Joseph Wilson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That was what Ilia Malinin endured on Friday night, when his disastrous free skate ruined his chances for gold.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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Steam cleaning is an effective way to sanitize and refresh your mattress, but the wrong technique can end up ruining the fabric.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In fact, the IOC might consider booting the sport altogether in June.—
Dana ONeil,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Patriots rookie Andy Borregales booted the ball into the endzone for a touchback.—
February 9,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Butcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butcher. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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