screwed up; screwing up; screws up
1
: to tighten, fasten, or lock by or as if by a screw
: to botch an activity or undertaking
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
Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 6 June 2025
His constant screwups are an expression of his karma — his need to sabotage himself and everyone around him.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
Jim Edwards, Fortune, 23 June 2025
So that was kind of like the two guys who screwed up.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwup
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.
Noun
Adults were once afraid of teens: the greasers of Rebel, the boppers of Beach Party, the stoners of Fast Times, the screwups of The Breakfast Club.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 6 June 2025
His constant screwups are an expression of his karma — his need to sabotage himself and everyone around him.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
Why are investors so calm in a world filled with war and chaos?
Because Iran’s options in terms of screwing up the oil market are actually quite limited.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 23 June 2025
So that was kind of like the two guys who screwed up.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwup
Cite this Entry
“Screwup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screwup. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
screwup
1 of 2 noun
screw·up
ˈskrü-ˌəp 
1
: one who screws up
2
screw up
2 of 2 verb1
: to tighten, fasten, or lock by or as if by a screw
2
a
b
: to cause to act in an odd or confused way
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share