as in shambles
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cock-up
Noun
-
Of course this was a calculated power play, not a bureaucratic botch.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026 -
During last week's WWE SmackDown, a series of mistakes and botches drew harsh criticism from fans.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As history has proved, titans of industry often share a regrettable tendency to make a lot of money from leveraging enthusiasm and then leaving others to clean up the mess when the markets implode.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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When asked what could be done to make life easier on modern consumers when a surplus of media rights deals are making a mess of the viewing experience, McMahon didn’t have any suggestions.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Saturday’s fiasco also gained traction on the social media platform Reddit.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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Others point to a budget fiasco roughly a decade ago in Kansas in which legislators enacted a series of tax cuts that were ultimately rolled back.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Spurs’ playing squad is a muddle, the legacy of a generation’s worth of short-termism and too many coaching changes to mention.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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There are too many out of stocks, too little inspiration in ranges, too much muddle and mess in stores.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Hefty extra wattage is apparently needed to keep the Mar-a-Lago lights on in the event of an unforeseen disaster such as a war, or flying sports court glass, or a late ketchup delivery.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
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Only instead of the flood of a players’ strike, this time the disaster will come cloaked in the fire of an owners’ lockout.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The debacle brought tons of commentary to the app, and to the debate.—
Kaitlyn McCormick,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
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Earlier this month Cumming addressed the debacle in a post on Instagram.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
23 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Cock-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cock-up. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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