as in shambles
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for cock-up
Noun
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The 10-member panel’s first time out, in 2022, was a total botch, as the process was unconstitutionally hijacked by Democrats in the Legislature until it was stopped by the state’s highest court.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2025 -
Those communication botches, whether on the break or in the half court, often include Towns, who once again vanished as a scorer.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
Life in Weisshorn is a mess of lies and trauma, and Nel’s ready to break out.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
26 June 2025
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In the wacky political world of Southeast Los Angeles County — where scandals seem to bloom every year with the regularity of jacarandas — there’s never been a mess as pendejo as the one stirred up this week by Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Word of the fiasco (and all the gory details) soon hit the media.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
25 June 2025
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The fiscal fiasco was built on the hallucinatory claim that California enjoyed a $97.5 billion surplus.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 June 2025
Noun
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In some ways his behavior since the election was more an emotional meltdown than a strategic plan, or a muddle of the two.—
Rebecca Solnit
January 13,
Literary Hub,
13 Jan. 2021
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On the menu: Reconciliation bill still sinking with voters; New York mayoral muddle; DNC’s chair agonistes; Crowded field could save Cassidy; Don’t sweat it Today is West Virginia Day, the holiday celebrating the 35th state’s admission to the union on June 20, 1863.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
20 June 2025
Noun
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As someone takes on roles that have elements of power associated with it, that can be a recipe for disaster.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Lighting effects, which demonstrate how self-driving vehicles avoid disaster, may give vibes from Magic Kingdom’s Tron Lightcycle / Run coaster.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Inside the ‘Dragon Age’ debacle that gutted EA’s BioWare Studio.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2025
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The debacle of the Iraq War, triggered by the pursuit of Saddam Hussein’s illusory weapons of mass destruction and links to al-Qaeda, infuriated young conservatives such as JD Vance (who served for six months in Iraq in 2005 as a military journalist).—
Adrian Wooldridge,
Twin Cities,
18 June 2025
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“Cock-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cock-up. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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