as in blunderer
someone who bungles an effort
the newest intern on the campaign is a butcher when it comes to writing press releases
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of butcher
The Week Us, TheWeek, 11 May 2026
There is brief discussion of poison, and at one point, a fearsome butcher holds a knife.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
ProPublica has chronicled the dark world of pig butchering, in which human traffickers in Asia force their victims to scam people by posing as friends or potential romantic interests.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for butcher
Noun
The formal living room has floral wallpaper, wide-plank wood floors, crown molding, and built-ins; the high-end kitchen features marble counters, a butcher-block island, and an adjoining dining area with French doors.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 11 May 2026
There is brief discussion of poison, and at one point, a fearsome butcher holds a knife.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Verb
According to the Times coverage of the incident and subsequent lawsuit, the scenes shown in the classroom included autopsies, decaying cadavers and live animals being butchered, mutilated and tortured.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
ProPublica has chronicled the dark world of pig butchering, in which human traffickers in Asia force their victims to scam people by posing as friends or potential romantic interests.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for butcher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butcher
Verb
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Here, up to 20 courses are prepared with ritual precision, from seafood treated with the ikejime (humane fish-slaughtering) method, to rice and wasabi sourced from long-standing Japanese suppliers.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
-
Some have fallen from trucks on their way to slaughter.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2026
Verb
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The stress of getting to your airport gate on time, coupled with the excitement of getting to your destination, can cause even the most seasoned of travelers to fumble at security checkpoints.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
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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
Noun
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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
Verb
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Interestingly, the blowing agent is derived from oyster shells discarded by the seafood industry, and the magnesium and calcium are sourced as natural byproducts of seawater desalination.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 May 2026
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Arizona had already established a commanding 7-2 lead going into the fourth inning, but the Diamondbacks blew the doors open by putting up a five-spot to take a 10-run lead.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Who is murdered, why and Clare’s entanglement in the whole deal unfold over the remainder of the novel, featuring much tighter and more plausible plotting than your average suspense story.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
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For the first time since her arrest, Cindy Rodriguez Singh – the North Texas mother charged with murdering her 6‑year‑old son – agreed to speak with CBS News Texas.—
Doug Dunbar,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The place is a sound-effects recording studio, with three sound designers creating and dubbing aural effects — footsteps on a sandy beach, flapping bird wings — onto pieces of film footage.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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The sound engineer at the mixing console is dubbed Pierre (Vincent Cassel).—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Trees along the property were mangled.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
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Fuqua’s film understands how precious childhood is, and the way that harsh treatment and rigid social expectations can mangle a young person’s outlook on life.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Since 2015, it has been held in ten different cities, including Las Vegas, where a red carpet was constructed atop the Bellagio’s fountain pool, and Nashville, where rowdy attendees ruined bachelorette parties on Broadway.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Many riads were in a state of disrepair, crammed with striking examples of traditional craftsmanship going to ruin.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Butcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butcher. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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