BUGGERING (UP) Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

buggering (up)

verb

present participle of bugger (up)

as in fumbling

to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way I've somehow buggered up the program again

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for buggering (up)

Verb

The FactPostNews accounts gained millions of new followers and billions of impressions across platforms, and the organization largely avoided becoming a story itself after fumbling the release of its 2024 autopsy report.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
His wife, Galina, a noble beauty, excels at the role of the plumed bird in a cage and yet suffers for it, fumbling around awkwardly for an escape.

— Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of fumbling

Verb

The professional and business services sector, as the agency classifies it, gained 70,000 jobs, blowing past its average monthly gain of 15,000 over the past year.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2026
Electric fireplaces produce heat by blowing air over heated coils or with infrared light and can be used with or without the heating function engaged.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of blowing

Verb

New York landing Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker — who has emerged as the draft’s top quarterback prospect — would be a painful blow to Miami, though the Jets have a long tradition of screwing up young QBs.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
So not screwing up Spider-Man is about putting a beating heart at the center rather than a bunch of spectacle.

— Chris Lee, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of screwing up

Verb

But life has a way of mucking up even the best plans, sometimes all at once and sometimes bit by bit and usually a little of both.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Amid the memory shortage that's mucking up component prices globally, at least Qualcomm has some promising news for folks hoping to pay less for a daily driver.

— Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 7 May 2026

Definition of mucking up

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buggering off

buggering (up)

bugger off

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“Buggering (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buggering%20%28up%29. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of buggering (up)

verb

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