botch
verb (used with object)
to spoil by poor work; bungle (often followed byup ).
had botched
-
past perfectof botch.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
At hearings last December, defense attorneys attempted to suggest police in Altoona, central Pennsylvania, had botched the arrest.
From Barron's ● May 18, 2026
"And then I hit a few stories that were connected to why he was appearing on my TV screen, he had botched other operations up."
From BBC ● Jan. 14, 2026
He said the company continued to employ a veterinarian who had botched surgeries and oversaw numerous violations because executives believed it would be too difficult to find a replacement.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2024
One Republican staffer called that event "an unmitigated disaster" and another said they had "botched this bad."
From Salon ● Nov. 17, 2023
During the French and Indian War, he had botched one mission, witnessed a bloody massacre of British troops, and then been sidelined as the conflict moved away from Virginia.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
