MUCK UP Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

muck up

verb

Definition of muck up

as in to fumble

to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way I swear, she mucks up everything she tries

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of muck up Sure, all this meddling does muck up the pacing somewhat, but who cares? — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2026 Teams continue to sag off Hart in the half court to try to muck up New York’s offense. — James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026 Well, the first and third mucked up their stories with some overly contrived lore about cults and gods, and the fourth was an experiment for the formula that didn’t quite work. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026 At least not Will Welch, GQ’s longstanding editor-in-chief and global editorial director, who was absolutely zen about the threat of an atmospheric river mucking up the mag’s Men of the Year celebration last night. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for muck up

Recent Examples of Synonyms for muck up

Verb

The Wildcats opened the game with a goal-line stand, but Chiles fumbled the snap on their first offensive play and Rolijah Hardy tackled him in the end zone for a safety.

— Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
But Rattler fumbled right before crossing the goal line, turning the ball over.

— Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of fumble

Verb

In only the second week of this season, the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes wilted in brutal heat in the fourth quarter at Texas, blowing a 20-point lead and losing by a single point.

— Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Those Phillies lost 10 straight games to blow a 6 1/2-game lead and the NL pennant with 12 games left.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of blow

Verb

Then police closed that, too — at midafternoon Tuesday after a report of a suspicious package — fouling up traffic for New Yorkers even more.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
In the end, though, neither an explosion nor a giant spill of fluid that could foul up waterways and the ocean occurred.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026

Definition of foul up

Verb

But moments later, Bremen got even when Cardoso dribbled past a series of defenders and played a dangerous ball into the box that a Herscher defender booted into the net for an own goal.

— Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
After being unceremoniously booted from Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour for speaking out in favor of Palestine, Macklemore is building his own show.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of boot

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mucks up

muck up

mucky

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“Muck up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muck%20up. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of muck up

verb

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