bollixes (up)

verb

present tense third-person singular of bollix (up)
as in fumbles
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 bollixes (up)
  1. fumbles
  2. blows
  3. ruins
  4. murders
  5. boots
  6. dubs
  7. screws up
Verb
  • Tensions between the galley and the interior continue to escalate over lunch service, when a radio mishap fumbles the order in which the food should go out.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 May 2026
  • The movie fumbles the chance to do something arresting with this seminal period in art.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 May 2026
Definition of fumbles
Verb
  • So the average curve still looks calm while the variance underneath it blows wide open.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • That blows Nolan’s old record for The Dark Knight Rises($249 million) out of the wine-dark water.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 July 2026
Definition of blows
Verb
  • Nothing ruins a great outfit like unsightly clothing wrinkles and stubborn creases.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 18 July 2026
  • Then, the adults in the family attend a concert in the Borgholm Castle ruins.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Definition of ruins
Verb
  • Moriarty has reported on the yogurt shop murders for over 30 years.
    — Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • Not the family stuff, like Natalie’s spontaneous nipple piercing after making out with Cady’s maybe-daughter, Nevaeh (Malia Pyles), who later murders her own mother after kissing her, for way too long, on the mouth.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of murders
Verb
  • Olise always takes it and boots the ball straight out of play.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Dominic Zvada boots a 31-yard field goal to give the Wolverines the lead.
    — Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
Definition of boots
Verb
  • That is, unless you’re motivated to pay individual device prices for a business-specific model (which Microsoft dubs Surface Laptop or Pro for Business).
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026
  • The stockpiles in Cushing, Oklahoma – which dubs itself the pipeline crossroads of America – fell below 20 million barrels and remained below that critical threshold last week.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Definition of dubs
Verb
  • But what really screws up Julia are the deliveries.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Kyle tries to jump up the wall, lands awkwardly, and screws up his ankle.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of screws up
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.

Browse Nearby Words

bollixes
bollixes (up)
bollixing (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Bollixes (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bollixes%20%28up%29. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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