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
Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
In front of the butcher’s near where the painter lives, a vendor, wizened and bent, sets up shop.
—Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The same day, a friend sent him an article about pig-butchering schemes.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for butcher
Noun
Take cues from this beautiful space and go with simple shaker-style cabinets and antique brass hardware, a combination of pendant lights and wall sconces, some shiplap on the walls, and a butcher-block island.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
In front of the butcher’s near where the painter lives, a vendor, wizened and bent, sets up shop.
—Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
Late in the second period, the Blue Jackets, still leading 4-1, continually butchered the puck in their own zone, almost presenting it to the Penguins as an offering.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The same day, a friend sent him an article about pig-butchering schemes.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for butcher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butcher
Verb
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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
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Thousands of English troops were being slaughtered in the trench warfare against Germany.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Beauty products have taken over my sink, leaving me fumbling for my go-to face washes and serums every morning and night.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
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The Steelers failed to capitalize on the miscues from a jittery Stroud, who fumbled twice and threw a pick deep in Pittsburgh territory.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But aerospace engineers at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have discovered a material that blows those two out of the water with nearly thrice the thermal conductivity.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
27 Jan. 2026
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The shuttle just suddenly blew apart.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And later in September, after the conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered in Utah, the account began posting a stream of writings about the importance of free speech and support for Kirk’s widow, Erika.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
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People tried to murder him, incarcerate him, slander him.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to the Ukrainian military news outlet Militarnyi, the robot was a reconnaissance-strike ground unit dubbed Droid TW, built by Ukrainian defense company DevDroid.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
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To the north, the Miami Correctional Facility – dubbed the ‘Speedway Slammer' – is set to make room for 1,000 immigrant detainees.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Photos from the scene show the side of the CSP cruiser mangled with the airbags deployed.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 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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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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This will either change your life or ruin you.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Duran booted a water bottle on his way down the tunnel while manager Unai Emery was enraged by Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall putting his finger to his lips and telling the Spaniard to be quiet.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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Following his legal trouble, Chacon was booted from his agency and lost out on a role in an upcoming movie, per Deadline.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Butcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butcher. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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