English Explanatory Dictionary

bungle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To incompetently perform (a task); to ruin (something) through incompetent action; to botch up, to bumble.
  2. To act or work incompetently; to fumble.
noun
  1. A botched or incompetently handled action or situation; a blunder.

Pronunciation

/ˈbʌŋɡ(ə)l/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-bungle.wav

Word forms

bungle bungles bungling bungled

Etymology

The origin of the verb is uncertain; it is either: * onomatopoeic in origin (compare bumble (“to act in an inept, clumsy or inexpert manner; to make mistakes”), fumble (“to grope awkwardly in trying to find something; to blunder uncertainly”)); or * from Old Norse; compare Old Swedish bunga (“to strike”), and dialectal Swedish bangla (“to work ineffectually”). The noun is derived from the verb. Cognates * German Bengel (“cudgel; rude fellow”) * Middle High German bungen (“to hammer”)

Synonyms

botch mishandle ball up blight bumble bugger up bungle contaminate corrupt crab deprave disrupt disturb foil fuck up jack up mar mess up mommick pollute put a crimp in queer ruin screw up soil sour spoil stain undo upset turn upside down upset the applecart vitiate blunder muddle

Derived words

bungled bungler bunglery bunglesome bungling bunglingly
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