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
Synonyms
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
Paul Auster, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2022
This is another screwup by Fortress since being candid about when a breach occurs is another thing companies that take security seriously are supposed to do.
—Byjeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 12 Sep. 2023
How did the chicken chain manage to stay beloved despite the order screwups?
—Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN, 17 June 2023
In a screwup, the phosphorus exploded not over the target but over the men.
—Richard Brod, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021
This is a screwup.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 7 Dec. 2022
This was a colossal screwup.
—Amy Forliti and Scott Bauer, chicagotribune.com, 21 Dec. 2021
Eddie is a charismatic screwup.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 28 May 2022
The two actors hook you and grow on you, with Watkins threading micro shades of cool through his brainy come-on, and Cyler taking what could have been a stock college-screwup role and showing you why Sean is actually the most observant person in the room.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 Jan. 2022
Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 29 Nov. 2023
The video makes clear that there are a number of ways to screw up.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2023
Ronnie Raygun sure enjoyed rubbing Carter's nose in the dirt when the US Army Special Forces, not Carter personally, screwed up the hostage rescue mission.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023
The reporter joked that the officer’s coworkers would likely be giving their colleague a hard time about the screw up.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2023
They are allowed to falter, screw up and fail, even when everyone is watching, without the world expressing utter shock or taking from that failure some larger message about what women are able to do.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2023
With so many newbies, there are opportunities to create major change — but also to screw up royally.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2023
This version of Sakamoto winces and screws up his face just as the real one did.
—Max Lakin, New York Times, 25 June 2023
Elsa screws up while playing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, leading her to walk off the stage in Vienna.
—Michele Filgate, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2023
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Noun
Another one of these screwups, and he’ll be put on probation.
—Paul Auster, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2022
This is another screwup by Fortress since being candid about when a breach occurs is another thing companies that take security seriously are supposed to do.
—Byjeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 12 Sep. 2023
How did the chicken chain manage to stay beloved despite the order screwups?
—Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN, 17 June 2023
In a screwup, the phosphorus exploded not over the target but over the men.
—Richard Brod, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021
This is a screwup.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 7 Dec. 2022
This was a colossal screwup.
—Amy Forliti and Scott Bauer, chicagotribune.com, 21 Dec. 2021
Eddie is a charismatic screwup.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 28 May 2022
The two actors hook you and grow on you, with Watkins threading micro shades of cool through his brainy come-on, and Cyler taking what could have been a stock college-screwup role and showing you why Sean is actually the most observant person in the room.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 Jan. 2022
Verb
This woman has screwed up my life three ways to Sunday.
—Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 29 Nov. 2023
The video makes clear that there are a number of ways to screw up.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2023
Ronnie Raygun sure enjoyed rubbing Carter's nose in the dirt when the US Army Special Forces, not Carter personally, screwed up the hostage rescue mission.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023
The reporter joked that the officer’s coworkers would likely be giving their colleague a hard time about the screw up.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2023
They are allowed to falter, screw up and fail, even when everyone is watching, without the world expressing utter shock or taking from that failure some larger message about what women are able to do.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2023
With so many newbies, there are opportunities to create major change — but also to screw up royally.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2023
This version of Sakamoto winces and screws up his face just as the real one did.
—Max Lakin, New York Times, 25 June 2023
Elsa screws up while playing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, leading her to walk off the stage in Vienna.
—Michele Filgate, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'screwup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1625, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near screwup
Cite this Entry
“Screwup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screwup. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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 a crazy or confused way
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