bungle

[buhng-guhl]

verb (used with object)

bungled, bungling 

1. to do clumsily and awkwardly; botch.

   He bungled the job.

   Synonyms: ruin, spoil, muddle, mismanage

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

/ ˈbʌŋɡəl /

verb

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

noun

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bungle¹

First recorded in 1520–30; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of bungle¹

C16: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare dialect Swedish bangla to work without results

Example Sentences

The dog passed the sheep and reached Nyame first—only to bungle the message.

Read more on Literature

In their first two decades in power, they nationalized a thousand companies that then collapsed, seized farmland across the country, bungled the oil industry into steep decline and presided over the theft of untold billions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And humans make mistakes too; many years ago, a bungled hospital extubation was the likely cause of my grandmother’s death.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Just think of the rows and bungles of the last seven weeks.

Read more on BBC

A hit-and-run driver who struck and seriously hurt a road worker after a 130mph police chase tried to blame his ex-partner in a bungled cover-up before being caught out by a Ring doorbell.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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