as in fumbled
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
you've bollixed up the whole thing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bollixed (up)
Verb
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During Miami’s two periods of special teams work Malik Washington fumbled his first kickoff return, but most of the other punt returners and kickoff returned fielded their attempts well.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026 -
Given how badly Karen Bass has fumbled as mayor, Raman couldn’t do much worse.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The 2006 Royals had the worst bullpen ERA in baseball and blew 31 saves.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
-
The Boston Celtics blew a 3-1 lead to the 76ers in the first round and the Detroit Pistons lost to the Cavaliers in seven games in the second round.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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But four years ago, Sorsby screwed up in a massive way.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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The two screwed up a top-rope stunner as Excalibur struggled to explain what happened like a 2026 Jim Ross.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Items that fall in the toilet are soggy, in need of sanitizing, and possibly ruined.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
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Our house, ruined by the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, was rebuilt from the foundation up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Wealthy sunseekers still summer in many of these Gilded Age mansions, but a smattering of the most grand estates are open to the public as museums, dubbed the Newport Mansions.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
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In a 2021 study, the company demonstrated that its neutralizing antibody can suppress a protein, dubbed USAG-1, which inhibits the growth of tooth buds.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
4 June 2026
Verb
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But their strategy was fouled up when the car’s occupants switched on the headlights, throwing a glare up the tote road along which the wardens had planned to sprint.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
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Wild turkeys gobbled up Staten Island straphangers’ time on Monday, after a flock fouled up service on the Staten Island Railway.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Bollixed (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bollixed%20%28up%29. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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