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
  • Lake Mary’s Remy Jarman fumbles the ball on his run and Oviedo recovers.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Buford scored 17 points off three Gainesville fumbles on punt plays.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fumbles
Verb
  • By the time Frey and Felder nearly came to blows backstage in the summer of 1980, however, those threads were too frayed to hold.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026
  • An ill wind blows around infant stars The team conducted its research using data collected by the JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI).
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of blows
Verb
  • To get even with Kanan, Juke murders Raq, her surrogate mother.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Moriarty has reported on the yogurt shop murders for over 30 years.
    — Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 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
  • 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

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 1 Sep. 2026.

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