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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of botched
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Specifically, The Ritz of the Bayou, reissued this month by Hub City Press, the happy result of a botched reporting assignment.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026
An inmate’s seemingly clever plan to escape jail via the visitation room ceiling – after meeting with his attorney – proved to be botched from get-go, according to investigators in North Carolina.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for botched
Adjective
Unfortunately, Michael is a botched job.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Specifically, The Ritz of the Bayou, reissued this month by Hub City Press, the happy result of a botched reporting assignment.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Pulisic also botched a breakaway chance in the 45th minute when his pass for Weston McKennie in was too late, allowing Portugal’s defense to recover.
—Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026
An inmate’s seemingly clever plan to escape jail via the visitation room ceiling – after meeting with his attorney – proved to be botched from get-go, according to investigators in North Carolina.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for botched
Recent Examples of Synonyms for botched
Adjective
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Perugino’s compositions tend to be clumsy in their parallels—two people on the left, two people on the right—and the skin typically looks like candle wax.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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The collapse of the talks wasn’t the fault of bad faith or clumsy diplomacy.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Trailing to Jule Brand's 19th-minute goal for record eight-time champion Lyon, Arsenal was gifted an equalizer in the 59th when Mariona Caldentey's low free kick into the area was fumbled backward by goalkeeper Christiane Endler and onto the post.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
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Critics say the Epstein files show how Republican and Democratic administrations alike fumbled the Epstein investigation over two decades, leaving potential coconspirators uncharged.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Cavaliere made headlines earlier this year by banning Chappell Roan from ever performing at the concert after the singer had an awkward encounter with the stepdaughter of Brazilian soccer player Jorginho.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is one of Washington’s enduring, if somewhat awkward, rituals.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Apollo’s acquisition came after Verizon Communications bought Yahoo’s online operations in 2017 and then bungled an attempt to blend those services into AOL, another internet pioneer.—
Michael Liedtke,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Apollo's acquisition came after Verizon Communications bought Yahoo's online operations in 2017 and then bungled an attempt to blend those services into AOL, another internet pioneer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Amid chaotic scenes of masked immigration agents roaming neighborhood streets as protesters blew warning whistles, the operation led to two shootings by agents, including the fatal shooting in Franklin Park of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez in September.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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In one video, Brittany and her friends could be seen laughing as their hair blew furiously in the wind.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In other words, atrocious starts have ruined the Sox’s season before anyone had a chance to get excited.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Was so excited to make these and they were ruined by your poor recipe like many others!—
Christopher Kostow,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Botched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/botched. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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