as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
you've mangled this so badly that we'll have to do it over
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Recent Examples of mangle
Mistakes embraced, names mangled mid-debate, Yet every jest recalled, however late.
—
David Hochman, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Seventeen wooden joists in the south-west corner’s terracing collapsed, sending those standing in the affected area through the floor, with some mangled in the steel and others plunging all the way to the ground.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 17 May 2025
The Israeli military said that soldiers buried the bodies to prevent them from being mangled by stray dogs and coyotes until they could be collected, and that the ambulances were moved to allow the route to be used for civilian evacuations later that day.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025
The Ed Gein Story jumps around in time, in part to make connections to the other adaptations and in part because the biographical chronology is so mangled that any distraction is welcome.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for mangle
David Hochman, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Seventeen wooden joists in the south-west corner’s terracing collapsed, sending those standing in the affected area through the floor, with some mangled in the steel and others plunging all the way to the ground.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 17 May 2025
The Israeli military said that soldiers buried the bodies to prevent them from being mangled by stray dogs and coyotes until they could be collected, and that the ambulances were moved to allow the route to be used for civilian evacuations later that day.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025
The Ed Gein Story jumps around in time, in part to make connections to the other adaptations and in part because the biographical chronology is so mangled that any distraction is welcome.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for mangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mangle
Verb
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Saints, Panthers Arizona somehow turned an interception into a touchdown for their opponent and fumbled away another sure touchdown in a bad, bad loss on Sunday.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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After multiple punts, Keon Coleman, Allen’s trusty wide receiver, uncharacteristically fumbled later in the first quarter as well.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Grealish, no longer prone, headed, just like Moyes, to the South Stand and appeared to blow a kiss to adoring fans.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Apparently, Grier forgot his own words, because the lines that the Dolphins have built are collectively their worst this decade, something evident in a crushing 27-24 loss to Carolina, a game in which Miami blew a 17-0 lead.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The three dubbed themselves PPG on their season and ended up dressing as the real Powerpuff Girls for Halloween 2024.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
1 Oct. 2025
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Minnesota Wild players, who parked in the players’ garage just off the road temporarily dubbed W 97th Street, are delighted to see their comrade for effectively the next nine years.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Or pursue the rancid criminal element across the galaxy as a bounty hunter, making your fortune by ruining bad guys' lives.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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Nothing ruins a trip faster than your suitcase not showing up at baggage claim, right?—
Emily Belfiore,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On the opening drive of the game, the Chargers were flagged for a false start when Johnston and receiver Tre’ Harris botched a pre-snap motion.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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But Team Blue ultimately squanders their lead, completely botching the puzzle as the other two tribes smoke theirs.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In fact, this French Quarter institution helped invent modern brunch (thank you, butcher’s breakfast) and introduced cocktail classics like the Grasshopper and Whiskey Punch to the American bar lexicon.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
26 Sep. 2025
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Reese tried that one, too, but butchered it when his lean came well into the end zone.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One day, calling kids up to get pizza for a class lunch, the teacher repeatedly and purposely bungled her name.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
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Zach Johnson has spent the past two years in the awkward air of bungling the Americans’ 2023 trip to Rome.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Two months after historic floods swept through the Milwaukee area, new data shows that nearly 2,200 homes throughout Milwaukee County sustained major damage or were destroyed.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Police in Florida are searching for two men caught on camera destroying a mall store while stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise.—
Pilar Arias,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mangle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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