bungled

1 of 2

adjective

bun·​gled ˈbəŋ-gəld How to pronounce bungled (audio)
Synonyms of bunglednext
: badly done : unsuccessful because of mistakes : botched
a bungled robbery
a badly bungled attempt

bungled

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of bungle

Examples of bungled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
But culturally, says Peter Der Manuelian, Barbara Bell professor of Egyptology at Harvard University, the bungled operation inspired an entire field. — Daisy Shaw-Ellis, Vanity Fair, 20 July 2026 But Alabama has consistently defended its nitrogen gas protocol as an effective and humane alternative to lethal injection, the default execution method that also faced heavy scrutiny in Alabama after multiple bungled execution attempts. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 11 June 2026 Employing a cast of non-professional locals, the film playfully interrogates the brutal but bungled occupation while also allowing its actors — many of whom are descendants of the fascists’ victims — to reinterpret and reclaim a chapter in their city’s past. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2026 Otherwise realistic-looking visuals end up pockmarked with bungled street signs and distorted billboards. — Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bungled

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1619, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bungled was in 1619

Browse Nearby Words

bungle
bungled
bungler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bungled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bungled. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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