ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Bungle

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈbʌŋɡ(ə)l/ · Part of speech verb

Quick meaning: Bungle is a verb meaning (transitive) To incompetently perform (a task); to ruin (something) through incompetent action; to botch up, to bumble.

Meaning

(transitive) To incompetently perform (a task); to ruin (something) through incompetent action; to botch up, to bumble.

More Meanings

  1. (intransitive) To act or work incompetently; to fumble.
  2. A botched or incompetently handled action or situation; a blunder.

Example Sentences

The second figure [of the dance] commenced, and I made a sad bungle; so I did of the third, and fourth, and fifth, for I never had danced a cotillon.
[T]he trooper fails to fasten the brooch. His hand shakes, he is nervous, and it falls off. "Would any one believe this?" says he, catching it as it drops and looking round. "I am so out of sorts that I bungle at an easy job like this!"
I always had an idea that it would be bungled; but was willing to hope, and am still so. Whatever I can do by money, means, or person, I will venture freely for their freedom; and have so repeated to them (some of the Chiefs here) half an hour ago.
'I can't allow it,' insisted Carrados, moved by the horror of what he saw impending. 'The man discovered Byles there ever in the dark, and we know how that encounter ended. No, Parkinson, I won't have you sacrificed in the forlorn hope of patching up my bungle.'

Word Forms

Synonyms for bungle

Depending on context, synonyms include botch, mishandle, ball up, blight, bumble, contaminate.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include botch, blunder, boo-boo, muck up, blooper, foul up.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.