as in blunderer
someone who bungles an effort
the newest intern on the campaign is a butcher when it comes to writing press releases
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to slaughter
to kill on a large scale
the barbarians butchered the monks in the monasteries without mercy
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
the new piano student butchered the sonatina
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of butcher
Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Some of these attractions in the maze include a biohazard unit, a butcher shop, a poacher camp and a witch’s cauldron.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Oct. 2025
However, the miniature accessories didn’t seem to stop a group of humans from felling and butchering the elephant.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for butcher
Noun
It was subsequently given to the artist Kara Walker, who carved it up in accordance with a butcher’s diagram.
—Verb
This can include field dressing, skinning, butchering into various cuts and packaging.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for butcher
Verb
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She was convicted and fined five times in French courts of inciting racial hatred, in incidents inspired by her opposition to the Muslim practice of slaughtering sheep during annual religious holidays.—
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In September, at least 89 Christians were reportedly slaughtered by jihadists at a funeral and in surrounding fields.—
Verb
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Ball security The Hurricanes have fumbled the ball four times in the past two games and lost two of them — one apiece by Malachi Toney (first round against Texas A&M) and Fletcher (quarterfinal against Ohio State).—
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Herbert, who threw four interceptions in his last postseason appearance, fumbled five times after only coughing up the ball twice in his first 12 games this season.—
Verb
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
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Somehow, this new sensation emitted an awareness of the magnitude in which skateboarding would warp my life, which only ratcheted up the anxiety of blowing it.—
Verb
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Perez, a 63-year-old transient man, was convicted of the child murders from 1992 through 2001 throughout Central and Northern California, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office announced in a news release.—
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Black was initially charged with attempting to murder him but a judge reduced that charge to assault after the preliminary hearing.—
Verb
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But this week, the unwelcome house guest, dubbed Yellow 2120 by researchers, finally got his formal eviction notice.—
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The video showed the mysterious concept, dubbed Corleo, roaming rocky terrain, leaping over icy crevasses, crossing snowy landscapes without losing its footing, and traversing a dark forest at night — all while carrying an adult rider on its back and being powered by a hydrogen power cell.—
Verb
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Bruce, my sincere apology for 40 years of mangling your songs in the car.—
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In all three crashes, police noted the guardrail was either already mangled or down.—
Verb
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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
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This will either change your life or ruin you.—
Verb
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The Bills could get booted early by a Jags squad peaking at exactly the right moment.—
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She nearly got booted during the first roundtable vote, a close call that seemed to leave her shaken.—
Cite this Entry
“Butcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butcher. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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