bungling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of bungle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bungling
Adjective
  • Kisses her mouth, but the gesture is awkward, clumsy; their teeth strike together, and Brianna winces.
    Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
  • As well as making a star of Alicia Silverstone, the original movie showcased the talents of Paul Rudd who played her stepbrother Josh (and went onto become Phoebe’s partner in Friends and take on the role of Ant Man) and the late Brittany Murphy, who played Cher’s clumsy friend Tai.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Historically an awkward public speaker, Johnson nevertheless saw the invitation as an opportunity to promote his plan for a voting rights bill.
    Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The latest breakthrough attempts have been met with ridicule as Republicans blast Democrats for awkward social media posts and videos.
    Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Accidental reveal One Russian military blogger inadvertently revealed the extent of the Ukrainian advance during a botched effort to downplay the advance on Monday.
    David Axe, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • After a botched attempt by Burberry to move upmarket, Schulman outlined a new strategy for the struggling brand in November, which included a greater focus on its key emblems, such as outerwear and its signature check, and a wider pricing structure.
    Kati Chitrakorn, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The state’s prohibitionist approach isn’t inept policy, says Paul Craney with the free-market Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance think tank.
    Chris Woodward, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The two later shook hands and made up. 1979: In the wake of the city’s inept handling of record January snowstorms, Jane Byrne upset Mayor Michael Bilandic in the Democratic primary.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Long Bright River, whose eight-episode season will stream in full on March 13, is neither a transcendent nor an incompetent example of this type of show.
    Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Of course, people love making memes that portray their political adversaries as hapless and incompetent.
    Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Bungling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bungling. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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