as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
bungled the job the first time she tried to do it
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bungle
Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2025
Wasted opportunities Two of O'Brien's best talk show moments were bungled at the ceremony.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 4 May 2025
With new signings badly needed, the January transfer window instead saw the promising defender Juma Bah lost to Manchester City for €6m after the teenager’s contract situation was bungled.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Thao was accused of bungling the city’s finances, contributing to a budget shortfall that will almost certainly require sweeping cuts across government departments.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bungle
Verb
The ensuing play again defensively broke down for the Giants when Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman bungled the ground ball off Dansby Swanson’s bat as Crow-Armstrong’s presence at third and deke home coincided with the mishandle.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2025
Wasted opportunities Two of O'Brien's best talk show moments were bungled at the ceremony.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 4 May 2025
With new signings badly needed, the January transfer window instead saw the promising defender Juma Bah lost to Manchester City for €6m after the teenager’s contract situation was bungled.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Thao was accused of bungling the city’s finances, contributing to a budget shortfall that will almost certainly require sweeping cuts across government departments.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bungle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bungle
Verb
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United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır fumbled the ball on the edge of his area, allowing Villa forward Morgan Rogers to take possession and put the ball into the net.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
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Minnesota Vikings: Aaron Jones — Jones came up in the discussion about fumbling, but that will not stop him from being the leading backfield producer for the Vikings.—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Those communication botches, whether on the break or in the half court, often include Towns, who once again vanished as a scorer.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%. ‘An embrace of brutality’ Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Dort may not have picked up a foul on this particular play, part of a special second-half suffocation of Haliburton, but there are other moments like this when an official blows the whistle.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2025
Noun
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The Adames bobble, and other items, were added to the following season’s promotional schedule.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
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Miguel Vargas made a slight bobble, leading to no chance for a play at the plate, and then decided to throw to first.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Verb
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The front nine, which has ruined more than a handful of U.S. Open rounds over the last two days, proved to be much tougher.—
Troy Finnegan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Sara Schilling,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
Verb
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A lot of buzz has been built around the veteran Jalin Hyatt, as he's been dubbed a potential breakout candidate for the upcoming season.—
Justin Grasso,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 June 2025
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He was credited as Arnold Strong (and dubbed over) in Hercules in New York (1970) before finding his footing as a mobster in Robert Altman's enduring The Long Goodbye (1973) and winning a Golden Globe for Bob Rafelson's Stay Hungry (1976).—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bungle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bungle. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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