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butcher 1 of 2

noun

ˈbu̇-chər How to pronounce butcher (audio)
Definition of butchernext
as in blunderer
someone who bungles an effort the newest intern on the campaign is a butcher when it comes to writing press releases

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

butcher

2 of 2

verb

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of butcher
Noun
Police said a man wielding a butcher's knife advanced toward officers, prompting them to open fire, killing him. — Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026 August is the month for many of our county and state 4-H fairs, and much livestock has a concluding chapter at a local butcher. — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
Elephants are widely adored by many people today — but a recent study suggests early humans were butchering them for survival nearly 2 million years ago. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026 With more than 3 billion users, WhatsApp is among the largest areas of scam activity, like wire transfers and pig butchering scams. — Stevie Bonifield, The Verge, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for butcher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butcher
  1. incompetent
  2. slaughter
  3. fumble
  4. blow
  5. murder
  6. dub
  7. mangle
  8. ruin
Noun
  • 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
Definition of incompetent
Verb
  • In the present, Kirk has to stop Reeger from wholesale slaughtering an entire planet, which involves beaming into the bowels of the ship to sabotage the ship’s phaser banks.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Many have pointed to the pandemic for slaughtering a number of independent cinemas, but let’s face it, even with streaming easing, the format has made moviegoers more discerning about what’s worth their attention and dollars outside the home.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of slaughter
Verb
  • On third-and-3 in NU territory, running back Damian Henderson II fumbled the handoff, and NU linebacker Brus recovered it at the NU 20.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Secure bags together with an industry secret Airline staff have an ability to bob and weave through terminals without fumbling their bags.
    — Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of fumble
Verb
  • Georgia State wasn’t done, as running back Qwantavius Wiggins blew past the UCF defense, racing 78 yards for a touchdown and giving the Panthers their first lead of the game at 21-17.
    — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The 10-year Treasury yield topped 5% this past week, hitting the highest level since 2007 and blowing way past forecasts for borrowing costs over the next decade.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • My husband was murdered with three thousand people and not one person has been held accountable.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Clancy, who was accused of murdering her three children in January 2023, has been in the national spotlight the last few weeks as her trial was live-streamed.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of murder
Verb
  • Congress this week attempted to rush the measure, dubbed the Ratepayer Protection Act, in the waning days before November’s election, as data centers have become an increasingly contentious issue.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Easy to cast and machine, cheap to manufacture, the material – dubbed Pykrete – showed some promise.
    — Mike McRae September 16, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of dub
Verb
  • Machines meant to begin giving the shells perfectly smooth noses would, instead, mangle them into swirls that looked like soft-serve ice cream.
    — ProPublica, ProPublica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The man in black is wracked and choking, mangling the words, eyes dripping.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of mangle
Verb
  • To me, that would ruin all of the progress baseball has made over the last five years.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • My personal concern is especially based on the fact that their huge need for additional electricity generation could very well ruin our ability to reduce carbon emissions and avoid a climate crisis.
    — Martin Kushler, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of ruin

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butch
butcher
butchered
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Cite this Entry

“Butcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butcher. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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