bungle
Americanverb (used with object)
-
bungles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bungled,
past participle, past
-
bungling
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
bungles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bungled,
past participle, past
-
bungling
present participle
noun
-
a bungling performance.
-
that which has been done clumsily or inadequately.
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
bunglesimple
-
bunglessimple
-
have bungledperfect
-
has bungledperfect
-
am bunglingprogressive
-
are bunglingprogressive
-
is bunglingprogressive
-
have been bunglingperfect progressive
-
has been bunglingperfect progressive
Past
-
bungledsimple
-
had bungledperfect
-
was bunglingprogressive
-
were bunglingprogressive
-
had been bunglingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of bungle
First recorded in 1520–30; of uncertain origin
Explanation
Saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, dropping something, tripping and falling: these are some classic bungles — and they’re always embarrassing. Bungles are bummers, it’s true. Ever said something awkward in front of a grandparent or dropped a cake on someone’s lap? Those are bungles — accidents that make you blush. Bungle can also be used as a verb when someone acts like a fool or simply messes everything up, as in “The teacher bungled her lecture because she left her notes at home,” or “My bungling dad fell into the punch bowl. Again.”
Vocabulary lists containing bungle
And Then There Were None
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Things They Carried
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
She wasn’t about to bungle the sighting for her client, a photographer who’d flown to Africa for this exact moment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
And while it’s disappointing that such a formidable industry figure could bungle a major career pivot, at least she’ll never have to go back to parking cars.
From Salon ● Jan. 1, 2026
So, yes, let’s hold college presidents’ feet to the fire when they bungle on a major issue.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 17, 2023
Farmer: I thought the Chargers might lose, as we’ve seen before, but they had the good fortune of playing an opponent that also has a tendency to bungle victories within their grasp.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2023
The dog passed the sheep and reached Nyame first—only to bungle the message.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Just think of the rows and bungles of the last seven weeks.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2025
The committee said some prominent bungles included flagging Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and Rep. John Lewis for airport scrutiny because their identities mistakenly triggered the watchlist.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 19, 2023
Charlotte and George marry, then George immediately bungles their budding marital bliss.
From Salon ● May 6, 2023
She cheerfully charts her errors in judgment, her bungles, her myopia.
From New York Times ● Aug. 18, 2020
Finally Vaubois bungles, through not knowing the ground, and is put under the orders of Massena, while two of his half-brigades are severely censured by Napoleon in person for their cowardice.
From Napoleon's Letters to Josephine by Henry Foljambe Hall
His graduation wasn’t until June, but the bungled war effort urgently needed a fresh crop of officers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Neff led a bungled election integrity case at the L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2026
On the hard-news side, she bungled big moments like an interview with Vladimir Putin, who batted away her questions about 2016 election meddling with an exasperated performance of ignorance.
From Slate ● May 6, 2026
Her claims have triggered demonstrations, promises to tighten the law and criticism that Chancellor Friedrich Merz has bungled his response.
From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026
“Hello, kids. I suppose you heard how I bungled that spy business. Wiping out the footprints and all that.”
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
I’m calling my shot: This will be the year that the Three Lions, the bungling, deadbeat clown show of international soccer, finally do it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
Bernthal, who plays Sonny, has his own wayward machismo and hapless sensitivity, the very qualities that made Al Pacino unforgettable in the role of the bungling bandit with a Catholic conscience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026
The Lions completed a historic comeback, with a little help from a bungling David Campese.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2025
Funneled into the framework of a prom slasher, the bungling of "Fear Street: Prom Queen" feels downright pernicious.
From Salon ● May 24, 2025
Called him a bungling amateur and said he was out of his depth.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
