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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bungling
  1. clumsy
  2. awkward
  3. botched
  4. inept
  5. incompetent
Adjective
  • Where Huang’s wardrobe for Oz emphasizes his position as a clumsy social climber, aspiring to classic mafia masculinity but too crass to fit in with the old-money elite, Sofia represents a different kind of outsider.
    Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Jessica Carter Altman always thought of herself as clumsy.
    Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • Jennings read the clue with a slightly awkward tone, then immediately apologized to Heather after it was answered.
    Gabriella Rudy, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Krieps, playing Jill possessed by Elizabeth, gets slighter colder, more rigid, and more awkward.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • In particular, the 2015 Mamasapano massacre, in which Islamist rebels allegedly slaughtered 44 policemen during a botched counterterrorism operation, undercut public support for peace negotiations with the group responsible for the massacre, MILF.
    Richard Javad Heydarian, Foreign Affairs, 28 June 2017
  • Three Americans were convicted of taking part in a botched coup against the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and have been sentenced to death.
    Josh Feldman, NBC News, 15 Sep. 2024
Definition of botched
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, they were led by inept and/or unethical leaders that gambled with other people’s money and lost.
    Alexander S. Blume, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
  • But in its attempts to explore issues such as mental health and abuse, the film is staggeringly inept.
    The Week UK, theweek, 12 Oct. 2024
Definition of inept
Adjective
  • The film, which is currently shooting on location, follows two incompetent paramedics completely out of their depth, who unwittingly become embroiled in a kidnapping plot.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
  • No doubt, President Biden was more than peeved that Harris and the Democrat-media-money machine overthrew him for someone that even Joe recognized was glaringly incompetent.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of incompetent
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near bungling

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 21 Nov. 2024.

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Nglish: Translation of bungling for Spanish Speakers

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