botch 1 of 2

verb

Definition of botchnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

botch

2 of 2

noun

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
Verb
The tattoo has been arduous work for William, with setbacks and botched work taking up much of the past decade. — Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 In clinical environments bound by federal regulations and ethics guidelines, an LLM that hallucinates an endpoint or botches eligibility criteria does not just cause a minor hiccup. — Anshima Raj, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
During last week's WWE SmackDown, a series of mistakes and botches drew harsh criticism from fans. — Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 This might seem like a minor quibble, but the fact that the new movie botches the whole wait-what-did-they-actually-do-last-summer thing speaks to a prevailing sense of laziness. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for botch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for botch
  1. fumble
  2. jumble
  3. blow
  4. variety
  5. bungle
  6. assortment
  7. ruin
  8. medley
Verb
  • The Cougars were stopped at the UCF 3 on consecutive drives before Overmyer fumbled at the UCF 7 and into the end zone, recovered by the Knights.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • On Friday, the Rams waived punt returner Xavier Smith, who fumbled in last season’s NFC championship game and made several decision-making errors against the Broncos.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of fumble
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
Definition of jumble
Verb
  • Miller blew just three saves in the regular season and allowed just 37 total hits.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In Orange County, Anaheim hit 101 degrees Sunday, blowing past the 98-degree record set in 2020.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of blow
Noun
  • For families Traveling families have a variety of room choices, with some suites offering kitchenettes, separate living areas, multiple rooms, and private balconies to spread out.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Across six hour-long episodes, the show follows a variety of urban animals to uncover the challenges of living alongside the human race.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of variety
Verb
  • In the space of a few paragraphs, Ned will abandon and recover his child, bungle an extramarital affair, win and lose, experience ecstasy and dejection.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Joe Burrow bungles Bengals’ passing game My theory of the case with Caleb Williams is that there was untapped running value here.
    — Michael Salfino, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of bungle
Noun
  • The taquería offers a full menu with an assortment of Mexican food, including carne asada, enchiladas, quesadillas, tortas, and breakfast burritos, but the chain is best known for its tacos and super-sized burritos.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The two-level size will allow Uniqlo to showcase its full LifeWear assortment, the chief executive officer said.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of assortment
Verb
  • On Monday, workers hauled out a 200-pound piece of equipment that was ruined by the saltwater and sand carried in on the high tides.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
  • So our goal is to learn how to maximize AI budgets, not ration them and ruin productivity gains.
    — Konstantin Klyagin, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruin
Noun
  • Sombr, Raye, Teddy Swims, Raye, and surprise guest Adam Lambert put on their best leather to celebrate the legacy of George Michael tonight with a medley of songs at the MTV Video Music Awards.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Derived from the Italian word for garden, Chicago-style giardiniera is a veggie medley cured in vinegar and packed in oil, with a satisfyingly crunchy flavor profile ranging from briny to tangy to hot.
    — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of medley

Browse Nearby Words

botanicals
botch
botched
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Cite this Entry

“Botch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/botch. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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