bungle

American  

[buhng-guhl] / ˈbʌŋ gəl /

verb (used with object)

bungled, bungling

1. to do clumsily and awkwardly; botch.

   He bungled the job.

   Synonyms:

   ruin, spoil, muddle, mismanage

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verb (used without object)

bungled, bungling

1. to perform or work clumsily or inadequately.

   He is a fool who bungles consistently.

noun

1. a bungling performance.

2. that which has been done clumsily or inadequately.

bungle British  

/ ˈbʌŋɡəl /

verb

1. (tr) to spoil (an operation) through clumsiness, incompetence, etc; botch

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noun

1. a clumsy or unsuccessful performance or piece of work; mistake; botch

Other Word Forms

• bungler noun
• bungling adjective
• bunglingly adverb
• unbungling adjective

Etymology

Origin of bungle

First recorded in 1520–30; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

“Me? What are you doing? Skulking around in the wee hours, bungling the staircase so as not to be heard.”

From Literature

A report commissioned by the city would later fault him and the police chief at the time for a bungled emergency response that left residents feeling abandoned.

From The Wall Street Journal

Somewhere in the woods, there’s a cacophony of yips—the runts most likely bungling the squirrel hunt.

From Literature

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

On the bungled hiring of a management team whose role was not entirely clear.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• botch
• err
• flub
• fudge
• gum up
• miscalculate
• mishandle
• mismanage
• muff
• screw up