buggers (up)

verb

present tense third-person singular of bugger (up)
as in fumbles
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 buggers (up)
  1. fumbles
  2. blows
  3. murders
  4. boots
  5. screws up
Verb
  • So the associate who fumbles a membership conversation doesn’t need a lecture.
    — Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • DeLand was driving inside the 20 yard line and Taihj Moore fumbles, recovered by Lake Mary.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of fumbles
Verb
  • The war in Iran, high gas prices, the stubbornly high cost of living, and blows to Trump’s popularity all contributed against the Republicans.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
  • As Paladin drives off, contract finally fulfilled, an estate guard with a rocket launcher blows his murder-van into flaming wreckage.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of blows
Verb
  • This included three of the women involved in the brutal Manson murders — Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten — all scheduled to be gassed.
    — M. Sara Rosenthal, STAT, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Joe almost murders Morgan (Sherry and Morgan in the same episode?
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of murders
Verb
  • Back at the hotel, Vision boots up his head-laser when Paladin’s drone approaches.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Olise always takes it and boots the ball straight out of play.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of boots
Verb
  • To make matters worse, Alex screws up again when Kerry, Fraser, and Kaylee leave with the guests for an excursion at the elephant sanctuary.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2026
  • But what really screws up Julia are the deliveries.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Mar. 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

buggers off
buggers (up)
bugger (up)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Buggers (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buggers%20%28up%29. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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