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
Relevance
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
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
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Marmaduke has traveled across the world on various explorations and has also worked as a butcher.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
ProPublica has chronicled the dark world of pig butchering, in which human traffickers in Asia force their victims to scam people by posing as friends or potential romantic interests.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for butcher
Noun
The blades of two butcher knives snapped off during the killing spree.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Marmaduke has traveled across the world on various explorations and has also worked as a butcher.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
According to the Times coverage of the incident and subsequent lawsuit, the scenes shown in the classroom included autopsies, decaying cadavers and live animals being butchered, mutilated and tortured.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
ProPublica has chronicled the dark world of pig butchering, in which human traffickers in Asia force their victims to scam people by posing as friends or potential romantic interests.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for butcher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butcher
Verb
-
Some have fallen from trucks on their way to slaughter.—
Eric Adler
April 26,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2026
-
At Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year, a few pigs would be slaughtered and the pork rationed out.—
Michael Sheridan,
Vanity Fair,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The world is still reeling from the news that anyone would fumble Megan Thee Stallion.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
3 May 2026
-
In its bid to get out in front of the FCC’s inquiry, however, the NFL may have fumbled its advantage over CBS.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
1 May 2026
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
Verb
-
Anika Reed Latin music superstar Maluma opted for a dapper Tom Ford suit with his hair slicked back into a bun, blowing USA TODAY a kiss before exiting the carpet.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
-
Brunson had 27 points by halftime, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer that blew the score to 74-51 and gave him the second-most first-half points in Knicks playoff history.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
Additional rooms focus on killers such as John Wayne Gacy, known as the clown serial killer who was convicted of killing 33 young men and boys, and the Green River Killer, named Gary Ridgway, who was convicted of murdering 49 women between 1982 and 1998, among others.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
-
The parents of Celeste Rivas Hernandez were cleared of allegations of child neglect and abuse in the months before authorities say the teenager was murdered and dismembered by singer D4vd, who now faces a possible death sentence for the slaying.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The duo has announced seven album premiere parties on May 22—dubbed the Inferno Sessions—in Tokyo, Berlin, Barcelona, London, Glasgow, New York, and Los Angeles.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
7 May 2026
-
The skin care and makeup brand’s most recent launch arrived in concert with weekend one of Coachella (or Bieberchella, as it’s been dubbed).—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Trees along the property were mangled.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Fuqua’s film understands how precious childhood is, and the way that harsh treatment and rigid social expectations can mangle a young person’s outlook on life.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Scrubbing can ruin the finish on fabric, especially upholstery.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
-
Safeguarding the location of the Bezos’ party could save the man Forbes calls the world’s fourth-richest person from having protesters ruin his evening.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Butcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butcher. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
