Bungle

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈbʌŋɡ(ə)l/

Definitions

1. To perform a task in a careless or clumsy manner resulting in failure or error
2. To mishandle an activity or job through lack of skill or attention
3. To execute something incompetently, causing mistakes or problems

Etymology: The verb "bungle" is one of those words whose origin cannot be pinned down with confidence. One possibility is that it is onomatopoeic, imitating the clumsy, fumbling motion it describes, and it sits in a family of similar-sounding verbs such as "bumble" and "fumble" that all carry the sense of acting inexpertly. The other possibility points north: it may come from Old Norse, with a likely relative in Old Swedish "bunga," meaning "to strike," and in the dialect word "bangla," meaning "to work ineffectually." Both routes suggest the same core idea of heavy, awkward handling, which fits the modern sense of mishandling a job through lack of skill or attention. The noun came later and was formed from the verb, so the action came first and the person or result followed.

Synonyms: mess up, botch, blunder

Antonyms: succeed, accomplish