Anything worth doing is worth bungling.
Source: tatoeba (8554499)
Bungling
Synonyms for "bungling" (111 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (23)
Adjective(2 words)
Strong matches (33)
carelessnessclownishclumsyclumsy-fistedcumbersomedeficientfingers all thumbsfumblinggauchegawkishgawkygracelesshalf assedhalf-assedham-fistedham-handedhaphazardhaphazardnessheavy handedheavy-handed
Show 3 more words
Noun(4 words)
Adjective(6 words)
Related words (55)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: all thumbs, amateur, artless, awkward, bad job.
- Sentence evidence is available for bungling, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "bungling".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "bungling"
Keep "bungling" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "bungling" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "bungling", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "bungling" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesMore specific
15 entriesCollocations
14 entriesadministrative bunglingbungling administrationbungling attemptbungling handlingbungling mistakebungling of databungling of negotiationsbungling of the projectbungling oversightbureaucratic bunglingorganizational bunglingprocedural bunglingsystemic bunglingtechnological bungling
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
4 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
Harry made a bungling attempt to catch the ball.
Source: wiktionary
Well, he then decided to manufacture everything as in the human body. I'll show you in the museum the bungling attempt it took him ten years to produce. It was to have been a man, but it lived for three days only. Then up came young Rossum, an engineer. He was a wonderful fellow, Miss Glory. When he saw what a mess of it the old man was making, he said: "It's absurd to spend ten years making a man. If you can't make him quicker than nature, you might as well shut up shop."
Source: wiktionary
Your bungling nearly cost us our jobs.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "bungling"?
Closest matches include all thumbs, amateur, artless, awkward, bad job.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "bungling"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.