bungling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbəŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce bungling (audio)
Definition of bunglingnext
as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) I refuse to let that bungling incompetent insult me again

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bungling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of bungle
as in fumbling
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way bungled the job the first time she tried to do it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 bungling
Adjective
The broadest of comedies, the film’s often puerile humor is driven by an endless stream of male bungling, blundering and whining, only to be kicked up a notch by pratfalls of nearly every variety, from getting bucked off a galloping horse to tripping into a pile of trash. — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 27 May 2026 Bernthal, who plays Sonny, has his own wayward machismo and hapless sensitivity, the very qualities that made Al Pacino unforgettable in the role of the bungling bandit with a Catholic conscience. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026 His friendship with Epstein was never a secret — though his bungling aides’ accidental reopening of it is one of history’s greatest political errors. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Jan. 2026
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 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 And Kash Patel's FBI seems to be bungling the investigation at every step. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026 Cricket was shot for yapping uncontrollably, bungling the mission, and killing innocent bystanders. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026 Walsh was joined by Sean Davis, Saagar Enjeti, and other conservative commentators who spent the day accusing the administration of bungling its messaging on the conflict. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 3 Mar. 2026 Hollywood stars would do well to worry less about bungling the teleprompter and more about being true to their heart. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026 The pair wasn’t done with its bungling yet. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2026 At that point, the day had been characterized by sloppiness and frustration, with Bears pass catchers failing to secure at least a half-dozen catchable throws from their quarterback and, on three occasions, bungling fourth-down opportunities. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bungling
  1. clumsy
  2. fumbling
  3. awkward
  4. blowing
  5. botched
  6. inept
  7. incompetent
  8. inexperienced
Adjective
  • Such episodes now look like clumsy moments in a decade of dissembling.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Yirenki’s challenge on Christos Tzolis is clumsy, but well short of a first yellow card, let alone a second.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Verb
  • The Packers’ offense left the field, but came back after it was ruled that Watson was down before fumbling.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Here was his senior running back, who scored a 44-yard touchdown in their state championship win months earlier, fumbling on the very first play of the Blue-White scrimmage.
    — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of fumbling
Adjective
  • Lug a bulky, awkward, bear-proof canister to store your food so you don’t get mauled.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That puts the conference’s universities in an awkward—and potentially paradoxical—position of promoting a product that researchers within their academic departments have raised concerns about.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of awkward
Verb
  • The National Weather Service called for blowing dust early Friday evening and a 20% chance of rain on Sunday for nearby Gerlach, Nevada, a community of 58 people about 100 miles north of Reno.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Stanford won 37-27, but this was after blowing a 16-point lead.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of blowing
Adjective
  • Willis had a botched snap exchange, dropped a snap and threw two INTs.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Young agent Nina is recuperating in Corfu after a botched mission in the Balkans, but the idyllic landscape darkens when an agent is murdered.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of botched
Adjective
  • The Bengals went 5-3 in his starts, partly because Cincy faced inept offenses along the way (Cleveland twice, Arizona and Miami once apiece).
    — Mike Sando, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • After the first-team offense exited, Miami looked inept on that side of the ball.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of inept
Adjective
  • In a 2013 Denver case on similar charges, he was found incompetent to stand trial, and the case was dismissed.
    — Olivia Young, CBS News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • So the archetype of an uncharismatic leader is not necessarily someone unlikeable, introverted, socially incompetent or ineffective.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of incompetent
Adjective
  • The Holbrook sisters are undersocialized and inexperienced with the world, and Herzog sees them as figures out of a fable, dreamers who talk incessantly about love and seem connected to the elemental and the ancient.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • When someone with 20 years of expertise is willing to look inexperienced for 20 minutes, everyone else gets permission to learn.
    — Pankaj Prasoon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of inexperienced

Browse Nearby Words

bunglesome
bungling
bungs
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Cite this Entry

“Bungling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bungling. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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