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
For now, the Ortizes have hired a local butcher to provide menu items like Italian sausage and other meats. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026 The Muses were meant for the butcher two autumns ago, but no one had the heart to lure them onto the trailer. — Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Verb
The plague victims likely hunted, skinned and butchered marmots for their meat and fur, which would have exposed members of the community to the bacteria, Macleod said. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026 Normally, that involves making stone tools, butchering deer, or distilling birch tar. — ArsTechnica, 2 June 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
  • The one where a man, his mother, and his entire army are slaughtered by deceit?
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 July 2026
  • First, the animals whose skins would become parchment—typically sheep or calves—had to be slaughtered; a complete bible required the skins of around five hundred sheep.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of slaughter
Verb
  • Eugene Levy‘s fumbling birds and the bees talks comprise some of the funniest moments of American Pie — and most of them were improvised.
    — Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 9 July 2026
  • But in her concentration, Porsha fumbled her words, which made the Faithfuls, who were desperate for a crumb of evidence so early in the game, suspicious of her sincerity.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Definition of fumble
Verb
  • Allmendinger blew a tire and hit the wall with 25 laps remaining to cause another caution.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • Moments before the first-half whistle was set to blow, Summit FC was given a golden opportunity to take the lead into halftime.
    — Spencer Baldwin, Denver Post, 13 July 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • According to his own brother’s testimony, Sochor raped and murdered Gifford, then hid her body.
    — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2026
  • No one really knows how many the mob murdered that afternoon, but historians generally agree the number ranges from dozens to hundreds.
    — Lee Cowan, CBS News, 12 July 2026
Definition of murder
Verb
  • The attack was planned to take place at the cage-fighting show dubbed UFC Freedom 250, which was held on the South Lawn of the White House to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
    — Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
  • For years, it was known as the third-place playoff but now, to the annoyance of many, it’s dubbed the Bronze Final.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Definition of dub
Verb
  • Old tree roots have mangled sidewalks and created obstacles for pedestrians, especially parents with strollers and people using wheelchairs.
    — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • Grief mangles cognition and memory in ways that can make even banal tasks feel surreal, if not impossible.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of mangle
Verb
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • But Neill doesn’t lean into the crotchety loner stereotype that could have ruined the entire film, finding a core of relatable decency in this outsider that instead holds the whole effort together with an honest humanity reflected in his choices.
    — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Definition of ruin

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Cite this Entry

“Butcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butcher. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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