botched 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbächt How to pronounce botched (audio)
Definition of botchednext
as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) a botched attempt to mend relations with our disaffected European allies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

botched

2 of 2

verb

past tense of botch
as in fumbled
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way the first time we tried to make a cake, we botched the job completely

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of botched
Adjective
When he's appointed interim sheriff of a tiny Minnesota town, Ulysses Richardson intervenes in a botched bank robbery, discovering a stash of gold and heavy weapons that belong to a Yakuza crime syndicate. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026 Observers worry about his fund-raising strategy, the botched autopsy rollout, the mood in the office. — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
New starting center Jared Wilson botched another snap working with Maye. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 30 July 2026 Clark’s ouster, meanwhile, was botched, as a leak left ESPN brass scrambling to inform the former Steelers safety that he was being released Monday during an NFL Live commercial break. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for botched
Recent Examples of Synonyms for botched
  1. clumsy
  2. fumbled
  3. awkward
  4. bungled
  5. blew
  6. ruined
Adjective
  • Yirenki’s challenge on Christos Tzolis is clumsy, but well short of a first yellow card, let alone a second.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Vocals are surprisingly good, despite the show being a bit awkward and clumsy at times.
    — Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Verb
  • The company, which offers credit cards used to make rent and mortgage payments, had fumbled a critical transition, leading to confusion and financial stress for its customers.
    — Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • On his second drive, Tagovailoa fumbled the snap from center and the Dolphins recovered.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of fumbled
Adjective
  • The Moon in Pisces moves through your 6th House of Work, Health, and Daily Routines while making an awkward angle to Venus in Libra and your 1st House of Self.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Most of us have felt awkward during those first tentative steps back into dating.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of awkward
Verb
  • On Monday, a judge on Staten Island temporarily blocked the city from implementing the tax due to a lawsuit brought by a group of homeowners who allege the city bungled the rollout of the tax.
    — CBS New York Team, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • For now, the press still sometimes bungled his name as Harry.
    — Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
Definition of bungled
Verb
  • It’s been a decade since the company best known for sucking up hair balls and dust bunnies blew with great force into the beauty business.
    — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Playing the American League’s best team, the Padres had the final two games of the series in hand before the practically impermeable back end of their bullpen blew late leads.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of blew
Verb
  • Three winemakers earlier this month filed suit against the owner of Hundred Acre Wines, Jayson Woodbridge, and his company alleging that smoke from the wildfire ruined their harvests, the Press Democrat reported.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities in Napa County have charged a man for allegedly setting the 2025 Pickett Fire near Calistoga, which burned thousands of acres of Wine Country and ruined grape harvests because of the smoke.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruined

Browse Nearby Words

botch
botched
botcher
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Cite this Entry

“Botched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/botched. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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