bungle
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a bungling performance.
-
that which has been done clumsily or inadequately.
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have bungledperfect
-
has bungledperfect 3rd person singular
-
has been bunglingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is bunglingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
am bunglingprogressive 1st person singular
-
are bunglingprogressive
-
bunglessingular 3rd person
-
bunglingparticiple
-
have been bunglingperfect progressive
Past
-
had bungledperfect
-
was bunglingprogressive singular
-
were bunglingprogressive plural
-
had been bunglingperfect progressive
-
bungledparticiple
-
bungledsimple
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.
Leave it to “SNL” to bungle what should have been a slap shot straight into an open goal.
From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026
Olympic bosses, who never met an issue they couldn’t bungle, fretted about precedent.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 15, 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
I worried that it’d be complicated or that a service issue would bungle the beginning of our trip to the happiest place on Earth.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2023
The dog passed the sheep and reached Nyame first—only to bungle the message.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Definitions 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.
