as in fumbled
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
I've somehow buggered up the program again
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buggered (up)
Verb
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Saints, Panthers Arizona somehow turned an interception into a touchdown for their opponent and fumbled away another sure touchdown in a bad, bad loss on Sunday.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025 -
Demercado is the latest in a recent line of NFL players who have fumbled the ball just short of the goal line.—
Anne Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Apparently, Grier forgot his own words, because the lines that the Dolphins have built are collectively their worst this decade, something evident in a crushing 27-24 loss to Carolina, a game in which Miami blew a 17-0 lead.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
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Whalen described one recent encounter where a homeless person blew fentanyl smoke in his face.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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How do things get so screwed up?—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
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Having obvious trouble is Lesley, who put a layer of shortbread under her flapjack, which screwed up the cooking time, which screwed up the decorating time, which left Lesley, well, screwed.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Also dubbed Prime Big Deal Days, the mega-store announced that the event will take place on October 7 and 8.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
3 Oct. 2025
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The Quarter is what is dubbed, in the UK, a ‘mixed-use neighborhood’.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Get murdered, my death inspiring troops to battlefield glory.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
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Jeffrey Murdoch portrays Ed Kemper, a serial killer who murdered 10 people, including his own grandparents and mother, according to The New York Times.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a post on Reddit's Wedding Drama forum, the bride explained the stressful situation that nearly ruined her nuptials.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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After his umpteenth comeback, director Robert Altman almost immediately ruined his career again with this tepid, unwieldy multicharacter satire of the fashion world.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Buggered (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buggered%20%28up%29. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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