as in blunderers
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 slaughters
to kill on a large scale
the barbarians butchered the monks in the monasteries without mercy
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in fumbles
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 butchers
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
Independent butchers are rare these days, as chain grocery stores with in-house butchers have become more prevalent.
—
Emily M. Olson,
Hartford Courant,
12 June 2026
Brown butchers then salts the chickens overnight, and marinates them in a mixture of ancho and puya chiles, garlic and chipotle.
—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
11 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
The local cheesemonger, the corner coffee shop, the butchers, the bakers, the wine merchants—they're all within arm’s reach.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
As the operation grows across the city-wide black market, their ambitions clash with corrupt authorities, rival butchers and a shifting political landscape, pushing the family toward dangerous alliances and violent consequences.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2026
Anthrax underfoot Most cases of human anthrax result from working with animals – an occupational hazard for tanners, wool sorters and butchers.
—
Hannah Kinzer,
The Conversation,
25 Mar. 2026
Buchsbaum described a mid-20th-century American Jewish landscape in which nearly every community had kosher butchers and caterers because even many non-Orthodox families expected bar mitzvahs, weddings and other celebrations to be kosher.
—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
The face of the already iconic series is the enigmatic Art the Clown, a demonic serial killer who butchers the inhabitants of the fictitious Miles County, New York.
—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
In their quest for the best produce, the trio searched around each location for the best butchers and bakeries to acquire fresh meat and bread each day.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
Independent butchers are rare these days, as chain grocery stores with in-house butchers have become more prevalent.
—
Emily M. Olson,
Hartford Courant,
12 June 2026
Brown butchers then salts the chickens overnight, and marinates them in a mixture of ancho and puya chiles, garlic and chipotle.
—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
11 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
The local cheesemonger, the corner coffee shop, the butchers, the bakers, the wine merchants—they're all within arm’s reach.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
As the operation grows across the city-wide black market, their ambitions clash with corrupt authorities, rival butchers and a shifting political landscape, pushing the family toward dangerous alliances and violent consequences.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2026
Anthrax underfoot Most cases of human anthrax result from working with animals – an occupational hazard for tanners, wool sorters and butchers.
—
Hannah Kinzer,
The Conversation,
25 Mar. 2026
Buchsbaum described a mid-20th-century American Jewish landscape in which nearly every community had kosher butchers and caterers because even many non-Orthodox families expected bar mitzvahs, weddings and other celebrations to be kosher.
—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Mar. 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 face of the already iconic series is the enigmatic Art the Clown, a demonic serial killer who butchers the inhabitants of the fictitious Miles County, New York.
—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butchers
Verb
-
When a wandering wolf threatens his fragile peace and slaughters his flock, Gaspard, blinded by rage, embarks on a perilous quest for vengeance — one that will lead him to the farthest reaches of his sorrow and guilt.
-
And then there is a gory massacre scene from the original Camp Miasma, in which Little Death (played by TV Glow‘s Jack Haven) slaughters dozens of unlucky campers to a highly unusual, anachronistic hit song from the 1990s.
Verb
-
Tensions between the galley and the interior continue to escalate over lunch service, when a radio mishap fumbles the order in which the food should go out.
-
The movie fumbles the chance to do something arresting with this seminal period in art.
Verb
-
Moriarty has reported on the yogurt shop murders for over 30 years.
-
Not the family stuff, like Natalie’s spontaneous nipple piercing after making out with Cady’s maybe-daughter, Nevaeh (Malia Pyles), who later murders her own mother after kissing her, for way too long, on the mouth.
Verb
-
More likely Brock Lesnar blows this thing up.
-
Cher’s court documents paint a bleak picture of how Allman, 49, allegedly blows through his $120,000 annual trust distributions.
Verb
-
Dominic Zvada boots a 31-yard field goal to give the Wolverines the lead.
Verb
-
Cushing, Oklahoma, dubs itself the pipeline crossroads of the world.
-
This results in what Atlassian dubs the fragmentation tax.
Verb
-
Nothing ruins the start of a weekend away faster than wrestling with an overstuffed bag.
-
Again, don't wring the suit, which ruins the shape.
Verb
-
Grief mangles cognition and memory in ways that can make even banal tasks feel surreal, if not impossible.
Cite this Entry
“Butchers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butchers. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
