The Meaning of Botched: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of botched? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word botched, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What does the word botched mean?

According to Cambridge Dictionary and Merriam-Webster Unabridged English Dictionary, the word botched (pronounced bɒtʃt) is an adjective that is used to describe a job that has been done poorly. This is often used in reference to plastic surgery gone wrong, such as a botched boob job. There was even a television show called Botched in which plastic surgeons repaired horrible plastic surgery. In American English this word is always spelled botched, but in British English it can also be spelled bodged. One can describe many things as botched, such as a botched job or a botched attempt at something. This often refers to someone who has bungled something or whose clumsiness has ruined something. If the botcher is doing a job in a clumsy manner, their ineptitude will cause the piece of work to be fouled up. Tyr using this word of the day or other new words in a sentence today!

Many different languages also contain words that mean botched. Knowing different translations for words is very useful if you are going to be traveling to another country or if you are trying to communicate with someone who does not speak English. This list of translations for the word botched is provided by Word Sense

  • Bulgarian: извършвам нескопосано‎
  • Polish: partaczyć‎ (impf), spartaczyć‎ (pf), partolić‎ (impf), spartolić‎ (pf)
  • Finnish: tunaroida‎
  • Norman: bôtchi‎
  • French: saccager‎, rater‎
  • Dutch: verprutsen‎
  • Esperanto: fuŝi‎
  • Hungarian: elfuserál‎, elront‎, elszúr‎
  • Serbo-Croatian: upropastiti‎
  • Spanish: desbarrar‎, chapucear‎
  • Russian: запороть‎, испортить‎
  • German: verpfuschen‎, pfuschen‎, (colloquial) vermurksen‎
  • Portuguese: arruinar‎

How can the word botched be used in a sentence?

The word botched can be used to describe many a job gone wrong. Often, this is used in reference to plastic surgery. In this example, Ella and her friend Kelly are talking about plastic surgery.

Kelly: I think I might get a lip flip. It seems less risky than filler, and people say the recovery time and price are a lot nicer.

Ella: Ooh, I’ll have to look into that. I don’t know that I would get any plastic surgery. My sister got a breast augmentation and it was totally botched. They were lopsided, and one started sinking, Then they started to make her really sick and she had to get them taken out. She has a ton of scars, and has had so much hospital time not to mention the bills.

Kelly: Yikes! Yeah, I was looking into a breast lift or a BBL but I think the recovery time is too much for me. I’m too active!

Here, Kelly and Ella use the term botched to describe a plastic surgery gone wrong.

What are synonyms and antonyms for the word botched?

There are many different words that someone can use in place of the word botched. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same meaning as another word or phrase. Synonyms are useful  to know if you are trying to expand your vocabulary oor if you are trying to avoid repeating the same word over and over. This list of synonyms is provided by Thesaurus

  • stumble
  • miscalculate
  • bungle
  • goof up
  • muff
  • spoil
  • mess up
  • gum up
  • misconjecture
  • flounder
  • misapply
  • bollix
  • patch
  • muck up
  • mishandle
  • blow
  • miscompute
  • muddle
  • louse up
  • blunder
  • distort
  • mess
  • mend
  • fall down
  • boot
  • pull a boner
  • screw up
  • flub
  • mar
  • mutilate
  • boggle
  • misconstrue
  • mismanage
  • butcher
  • wreck
  • bobble
  • fumble
  • ruin
  • misjudge
  • bumble
  • err

There are also numerous different words that have the opposite meaning as the word botched. These are called antonyms. Antonyms are also a useful English grammatical device to know if you are trying to grow your vocabulary. THis list of antonyms for the word botched is also provided by Thesaurus

  • win
  • realize
  • avail
  • possess
  • pull off
  • secure
  • do the trick
  • make a fortune
  • arrive
  • get to the top
  • be successful
  • conquer
  • outwit
  • fulfill
  • worst
  • recover
  • surmount
  • receive
  • accomplish
  • carry off
  • hit
  • overcome
  • triumph
  • turn out
  • make good
  • profit
  • acquire
  • vanquish
  • get
  • reap
  • obtain
  • come off
  • prosper
  • do all right
  • flourish
  • achieve
  • make it
  • score
  • make out
  • earn
  • thrive
  • attain
  • distance
  • grow famous
  • retrieve
  • succeed
  • work
  • outdistance
  • benefit
  • prevail
  • gain

What is the origin of the word botched?

According to Etymonline, the word botched has been used as a verb since the late 14th century. This comes from the 1520s word bocchen meaning to repair, and later, to spoil by unskilled work. This word is of unknown origin. This is likely the same as bocchen meaning to swell or fester.  This comes from the Old North French boche, or the Old French boce, which was a common Romanic word of unknown origin. Related words include botch and botching. This word has also been used as a noun to refer to an ill-finished part since the 1600s. This may have come from the verb botch, but could also come from the Middle English bocche meaning a boil. The Middle ENglish word has been used since the late 14th century, and was especially used to refer to the plague. This is also likely from the Old North French boche and Old French boce.

Overall, the word botched is an adjective that describes a poorly-done job. This is often used to refer to a foul-up in plastic surgery, or some bungling of a job. If something is botched, this means that whoever attempted the task did a poor job and has ruined it. 

Sources:

  1. https://www.wordsense.eu/botch/
  2. https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/botched
  3. https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/succeed
  4. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/botched#:~:text=%3A%20unsuccessful%20because%20of%20being%20poorly,recipe%20a%20botched%20medical%20procedure
  5. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/botched
  6. https://www.etymonline.com/word/botch#etymonline_v_15644