as in to fumble
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in jumble
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
this police procedural is basically a botch of plot elements stolen from other (and better) novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 botch
Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026
Lawmakers of both parties accused Bondi of botching the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which Congress directed in December.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
Those communication botches, whether on the break or in the half court, often include Towns, who once again vanished as a scorer.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for botch
Verb
And then the police really botched it badly.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026
Lawmakers of both parties accused Bondi of botching the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which Congress directed in December.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
The 10-member panel’s first time out, in 2022, was a total botch, as the process was unconstitutionally hijacked by Democrats in the Legislature until it was stopped by the state’s highest court.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
Those communication botches, whether on the break or in the half court, often include Towns, who once again vanished as a scorer.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for botch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for botch
Verb
-
The world is still reeling from the news that anyone would fumble Megan Thee Stallion.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
3 May 2026
-
In its bid to get out in front of the FCC’s inquiry, however, the NFL may have fumbled its advantage over CBS.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Anika Reed Latin music superstar Maluma opted for a dapper Tom Ford suit with his hair slicked back into a bun, blowing USA TODAY a kiss before exiting the carpet.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
-
Brunson had 27 points by halftime, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer that blew the score to 74-51 and gave him the second-most first-half points in Knicks playoff history.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
Notably, Bauhinia blakeana is a sterile hybrid, resulting from the cross-pollination of two different plant varieties.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Although Abel will be driving the meeting, Berkshire shareholders are likely to still poise a wide variety of questions to the company’s leadership.—
Yun Li,Alex Harring,Sarah Min,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who polled at 5% in the CBS survey, accused Becerra of bungling the federal government’s response to COVID-19, mpox and the influx in child migrants under former President Joe Biden.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Authorities bungle the case but still arrest a maintenance worker for the killings.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The company plans to overhaul about 75% of its home assortment by June, with a bedding refresh in the fall and kitchen and dining updates set for 2027.—
Star Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
It’s been partners with Jordan Brand since 2018, resulting in yearly kits and a robust assortment of sneakers.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Scrubbing can ruin the finish on fabric, especially upholstery.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
-
Safeguarding the location of the Bezos’ party could save the man Forbes calls the world’s fourth-richest person from having protesters ruin his evening.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
This big-batch punch showcases muscadine wine and bourbon with a medley of fruit juices, grenadine, and club soda.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Food scraps, leaves and wood chips are some essentials that make up the compost medley needed to repair the soil.—
Kara Finnstrom,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Botch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/botch. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
