screwup

1 of 2

noun

screw·​up ˈskrü-ˌəp 

1

: one who screws up

2

: botch, blunder

screw up

2 of 2

verb

screwed up; screwing up; screws up

transitive verb

1

: to tighten, fasten, or lock by or as if by a screw

2

a

: bungle, botch

b

: to cause to act or function in an erratic or confused way : confound, disturb

intransitive verb

: to botch an activity or undertaking

Synonyms

Noun

• mistake
• blunder
• error

Verb

• fumble
• stumble
• trip
• slip up
• lay an egg
• drop the ball
• foul up
• goof (up)
• louse up

Examples of screwup in a Sentence

Noun

That was a major screwup.

She's a screwup who can't hold down a job.

Verb

we all screw up from time to time, so don't sweat it

you've totally screwed up the spreadsheet

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Vince is the screwup, a mostly-former drug and gambling addict, while Jake is a successful restaurateur, running the eponymous club/restaurant Black Rabbit in Manhattan. —Andrew Bernard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025

In a precedent for a larger screwup later, Jess gets a mini-earful from Kerry for taking too long to update him on the chains during the anchoring process. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025

Verb

Managers can either screw up or screw up slightly less than the other guy. —Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025

In a world of near-constant conference realignment and the transfer portal, the annual Red River Rivalry game at the State Fair of Texas is one of the few things the sport hasn’t screwed up. —Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1625, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

screwup

1 of 2 noun

screw·​up ˈskrü-ˌəp 

1

: one who screws up

2

: botch entry 2, blunder

screw up

2 of 2 verb

1

: to tighten, fasten, or lock by or as if by a screw

2

a

: botch entry 1

b

: to cause to act in an odd or confused way