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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of butcher
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 June 2026
From all directions at once, the butchers were crushing toward the exits, holding their boning knives and cleavers aloft.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
The deer must be completely butchered and de-boned before it can be brought into the state.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for butcher
Noun
Over the coming days, both Baccus, ‘the butcher’, and Lewis, the New Zealand international, are also detained.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 June 2026
From all directions at once, the butchers were crushing toward the exits, holding their boning knives and cleavers aloft.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Verb
Stanley Tucci is back as Nigel, Miranda’s unfailingly loyal consigliere, who never butchers a bon mot or wears the same pocket square twice.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
The deer must be completely butchered and de-boned before it can be brought into the state.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for butcher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butcher
Noun
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The Dodgers reached the pinnacle honestly, in a capitalistic structure that properly hands no favors to the incompetent.—
Bruce Jenkins,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Navajo people had their sheep–their food supply and source of income–slaughtered by the federal government.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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Seven years before the start of this novel, an alien species slaughtered everyone aboard a human spaceship—Earth’s first contact with extraterrestrials.—
Alexandra Oliva,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Before that, when the Jets could have taken the lead on their opening drive, Allen fumbled on the Dolphins’ 1-yard line.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2026
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The Spurs had one more chance, but Stephon Castle fumbled the inbounds pass and pandemonium at Madison Square Garden followed.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Referee Nicolae Rainea blows his whistle.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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Imagine a world where the weather forecast calls for winds blowing at 11,000 miles per hour (18,000 kilometers per hour) and nighttime showers of liquid metal, rubies and sapphires.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Similiar incidents Last week in Baltimore City, a 15-year-old boy turned himself in to police, confessing to murdering another 15-year-old earlier this year.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
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Thirty years after Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, Jose's former business partner still questions what led to the killings.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
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In particular, a short tunnel section dubbed PrK, which connects the Russian Zvezda module to the station’s aft docking port, has been leaking air on and off since at least 2019, alarming officials.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
18 June 2026
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In an all-day meeting, members of the FDA’s advisory committee—known as VRBPAC for Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee—pored over data and presentations on the vaccine, which is dubbed mRNA-1010 and branded as mFlusiva.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The hood of the SUV was mangled, and the glass front door of the mini-mart was wrecked.—
Lou Kleinberg,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
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As reported by Euronews, the opening planned for this weekend has been postponed to an unspecified date after severe winds mangled part of the artwork on the oldest bridge in the French capital.—
Andy Battaglia,
ARTnews.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The Spurs rose up and ruined that party, winning their only game of the series.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Historically, barrels of Madeira spent months crossing tropical oceans aboard ships, and merchants realized that the heat actually improved the wine rather than ruining it.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Butcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butcher. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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