Synonyms of foul-up

foul-up 1 of 2

noun

ˈfau̇(-ə)l-ˌəp 

as in mistake

an instance of confusion

there was a foul-up with our mail order, and not one item arrived as ordered

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mistake
• mix-up
• confusion
• fumble
• mess
• fault
• blunder
• error
• chaos
• inaccuracy
• bungle
• misstep
• jumble
• botch
• miscue
• lapse
• disorganization
• oversight
• flub
• disarray
• bobble
• disorder
• slipup
• slip
• shambles
• goof
• stumble
• hash
• disarrangement
• muddle

foul up

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to fumble

to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way

tried not to foul up the football play

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fumble
• blow
• screw up
• murder
• ruin
• goof (up)
• muck up
• dub
• bugger (up)
• boot
• destroy
• spoil
• mess (up)
• botch
• butcher
• louse up
• damage
• fluff
• bungle
• muff
• mangle
• boggle
• bollix (up)
• gum (up)
• mar
• bumble
• injure
• flub
• wreck
• bobble
• hurt
• foozle
• flaw
• impair
• harm
• blunder
• muddle
• mutilate
• blight
• blemish
• vitiate
• mismanage
• piffle
• mishandle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improve
• better
• help
• enhance
• remedy
• reform
• refine
• rectify
• ameliorate
• repair
• patch
• fix
• meliorate
• renovate
• revamp
• doctor
• recondition

2

as in to trip

to make a mistake

unfortunately, I fouled up and in my e-mail gave everyone the wrong date for the meeting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fumble
• trip
• stumble
• slip up
• screw up
• drop the ball
• goof (up)
• blunder
• lay an egg
• louse up
• mess (up)
• err
• mistake
• fluff
• nod
• flub
• misunderstand
• boob
• murder
• botch
• butcher
• misjudge
• misconceive
• muff
• bungle
• mangle
• misgauge
• misdeem
• miscalculate
• misconstrue
• misinterpret
• mishandle
• miscount
• foozle
• miscue
• bobble

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of foul-up

Noun

There are fewer opportunities for foul-ups and mishandling between flights when there are fewer connections and layovers. — Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 5 Mar. 2025

That foul-up then gets included in the series of questions and answers, causing the final answer to go askew. — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024

Verb

But their strategy was fouled up when the car’s occupants switched on the headlights, throwing a glare up the tote road along which the wardens had planned to sprint. — Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026

Wild turkeys gobbled up Staten Island straphangers’ time on Monday, after a flock fouled up service on the Staten Island Railway. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026