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
Shortstop Miguel Rojas, who botched a grounder to his left earlier in the inning that enabled a run to score, was late breaking to cover third, leaving the bag wide open. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 Mbappé botched a breakaway attempt in the second half, and Manu Koné had his top-corner shot knocked away by Gill after he was wiped out in the netting by Ousmane Dembélé only moments earlier. — Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 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
  • With personal terms already agreed then, all that’s left is for FC Barcelona to persuade City with its transfer package and not fumble this in a manner that would open the door to Real Madrid once more.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • And Cam Skattebo fumbled at the end of a long run when Layne punched the ball out and corner Korie Black recovered.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 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
  • Then a few months after the trumpets were blown, World War II broke out.
    — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • On a covered walkway between the Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas shrines this week, metal fans blow a cooling mist.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of blow
Noun
  • The new, 115,000 square-foot store is expected to employ around 450 people and will sell a variety of food, including produce, baked goods, deli products and will offer a selection of wine and beer.
    — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The board have pointed to the team having so many midfielders and the variety of profiles on offer, from the box-crashing Jude Bellingham to the versatile new signing Bernardo Silva.
    — Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of variety
Verb
  • The combustion of Graham Platner’s candidacy in Maine is another blow to a Democratic Party trying to mend its reputation after bungling the 2024 presidential election.
    — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 9 July 2026
  • Kylian Mbappe, Romelu Lukaku and Darwin Nunez are some names at the World Cup who have previously bungled a knee slide celebration by diving into the ground, rather than trying to sling themselves along it.
    — Carl Anka, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Definition of bungle
Noun
  • The core leather goods assortment was a standout, with average unit retail (AUR) — the average selling price of an item in a period — rising into the mid-teens as units decreased by low double digits.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Plus, new options like Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies Minis and a Reese’s Sweet & Salty assortment will be on shelves for the first time.
    — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of assortment
Verb
  • Campione said her campaign was focused on protecting rural lands from being annexed into cities for rural subdivisions and stopping activities that could ruin water quality or override property rights.
    — James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But the mellow vibes are ruined when a goofy case of mistaken identity results in Frankie coming home with a briefcase containing several vials of a glowing orange goo.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruin
Noun
  • The party took an old-school turn when Charlie Wilson treated fans to a medley of solo hits and Gap Band classics.
    — Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 July 2026
  • First, Christmas carolers came out and performed a medley to cultivate a Yuletide spirit on a balmy 80-degree afternoon.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 23 July 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 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of botch for Spanish Speakers

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