botch

Verb

1. (transitive) To perform (a task) in an unacceptable or incompetent manner; to make a mess of something
2. To do something without skill, without care, or clumsily.
3. To repair or mend clumsily.

Noun

1. An action, job, or task that has been performed very badly; a ruined, defective, or clumsy piece of work.
2. A patch put on, or a part of a garment patched or mended in a clumsy manner.
3. A mistake that is very stupid or embarrassing.
4. A messy, disorderly or confusing combination; a conglomeration; hodgepodge.
5. (archaic) One who makes a mess of something.

Noun

1. (obsolete) A tumour or other malignant swelling.
2. A case or outbreak of boils or sores.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɒt͡ʃ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: bocchen

Inherited from Old English: bōtettan

In summary

From Middle English bocchen (“to mend”), of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old English bōtettan (“to improve; cure; remedy; repair”), related to boot, or from Middle Dutch botsen, butsen, boetsen (“to repair; patch”), related to beat. Doublet of bodge.

Synonyms

bungle

spoil

flub

screw up

mess up

blunder

ruin

bumble

muff

bodge

blow

foul up

botch up

do badly

louse up

fumble

ball up

bloomer

blooper

bobble

bollix

bollocks

boner

boo-boo

fluff

foul-up

fuckup

fuck up

mess

mishandle

muck up

pratfall

bollix up

bollocks up

make a mess of

patch

darn

make a mistake

screw

hash

#️⃣

skimp

slip up

goof up

tinker

make a slip

wreck

concoction

slapdash/careless work

botched job

err