Word of the day: Bunglesome

Bunglesome is one word that neatly describes situations many of us have witnessed, or experienced ourselves. Whether it’s a poorly handled task or an awkward attempt that goes wrong, bunglesome helps put a name to that familiar frustration.

In simple, everyday language, bunglesome means clumsy, careless, or likely to result in mistakes. When something is done in a bunglesome manner, it is handled inefficiently or awkwardly, often causing more problems than it solves.

The word focuses on how an action is carried out rather than the intention behind it. Someone may mean well, but their approach can still be bunglesome.


The word is less common in modern conversation. You’re unlikely to hear it in daily speech, but it still appears in written English, especially in opinion pieces, reviews, satire, or descriptive storytelling. Writers often use bunglesome when they want to sound precise or slightly old-fashioned while making a point.

Bunglesome is an adjective, and it carries a negative tone, though it can sometimes feel mildly humorous rather than harsh. It often criticizes actions, decisions, or methods rather than attacking a person’s character.

The word comes from the verb “bungle,” which has been used since the 16th century to mean doing something badly or incompetently. The suffix -some simply turns the verb into a descriptive adjective, meaning “full of” or “prone to.”

Example sentences:

• The bunglesome organization of the event caused delays and confusion.
  
• A bunglesome response to the crisis made the situation worse.
  

In real life, bunglesome is useful in workplace discussions, media commentary, or thoughtful criticism, especially when pointing out mistakes without sounding overly aggressive.