BOTCHING Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

botching

verb

present participle of botch

as in fumbling

to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way the first time we tried to make a cake, we botched the job completely

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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 botching On Monday night in Cleveland, a grown man in the Progressive Field bleachers created a ruckus by botching a home run catch and then stealing the ball from the young girl who was trying to pick it up on the rebound. —

Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 Lawmakers of both parties accused Bondi of botching the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which Congress directed in December. —

Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026 In a federal lawsuit filed this month seeking millions in damages, Lebohang Morake, known as Lebo M, accused Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi of intentionally botching the translation of the lyrics, central to both the Disney films and the musical theater adaptations. —

Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026 Continue reading … RINSE AND REPEAT — CNN slammed for third time for botching NYC terrorist attack coverage. —

FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026 Or rather, none of it happens without the Rockies botching the Arenado thing so badly that CEO Dick Monfort and the family felt obligated to take this massive swing to try and replace him. —

Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026 Atlanta still entered halftime with a comfortable 60-46 lead, however, after Boston squandered a chance to draw closer by botching the final possession of the half. —

Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 2026 How improbable was Romeo Doubs botching an onside kick? —

Dan Pompei, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026 The episode ends with Hegseth botching the Peter Thiel extraction and ending up in jail himself right alongside Thiel. —

Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for botching

Verb

Santillan appears to be fumbling away his opportunity, allowing nine runs (eight earned) over his last five appearances.

— Mike Barner, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
But Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace hit three-pointers while Smart was fumbling the ball and James and Hachimura were missing shots, while an Oklahoma City 8-0 run eventually gave them another 13-point lead that was never again challenged.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026