flub

1 of 2

verb

ˈfləb 

flubbed; flubbing

transitive verb

: to make a mess of : botch

flubbed my lines

intransitive verb

: blunder

flub

2 of 2

noun

: an act or instance of flubbing : blunder

Synonyms

Verb

• blow
• bobble
• boggle
• bollix (up)
• boot
• botch
• bugger (up)
• bumble
• bungle
• butcher
• dub
• fluff
• foozle
• foul up
• fumble
• goof (up)
• louse up
• mangle
• mess (up)
• muck up
• muff
• murder
• screw up

Noun

• blunder
• bobble
• boo-boo
• boob [British]
• brick
• clanger [British]
• clinker
• error
• fault
• fluff
• fumble
• gaff
• gaffe
• goof
• inaccuracy
• lapse
• miscue
• misstep
• mistake
• oversight
• screwup
• slip
• slipup
• stumble
• trip

Examples of flub in a Sentence

Verb

The ball went right to him but he flubbed the catch.

The actress flubbed several lines.

Noun

when she was told her information was wrong, she apologized for the flub and immediately corrected it

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Last week was super hard on Maher, who broke down in tears after flubbing some steps during Hair Metal Night. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2024

Walz was criticized following the Oct. 1 debate for flubbing an answer about allegedly misspeaking about being in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. —Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 21 Oct. 2024

Noun

The flub is believed to have hurt the then-Democratic nominee's presidential race. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

There’s been some flubs at past stops, but this time, a man in a black shirt aggressively shimmys his way into the frame, shoving influencer and podcaster Brittany Broski out of way. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1904, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1900, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

flub

verb

ˈfləb

flubbed; flubbing

: botch, bungle

flub noun