1
as in fumbles
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
tried not to foul up the football play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trips
to make a mistake
unfortunately, I fouled up and in my e-mail gave everyone the wrong date for the meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fouls up
Verb
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After successfully bluffing his way into the house, Tom fumbles an attempt to hide his reasons for being there, leading Robbie to take him hostage.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025 -
While both teams were in position to flip some results, the Ravens have to feel a little snakebitten with how their games have played out, including a couple of fourth-quarter Derrick Henry fumbles.—
Scott Chasen,
Kansas City Star,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nicholas trips over a bramble, falls to his hands and knees in the soaking grass.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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Unlike overlapping or hook-and-eye designs that can get tricky, the zipper makes bathroom trips much easier—an incredibly practical feature.—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Farming them also drives desertification in Mongolia, where the dust blows high in June, polluting the air as far afield as America, and making workers ill.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Oct. 2025
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Some games, like ones against the Bears and Panthers, this team blows golden opportunities to get into the win column.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The trio stumbles upon a crucial piece of evidence - and promptly compromises it.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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To summarize, the protagonist, lost in hopeless days, eventually stumbles upon a deserted dance hall.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ken Woroner—Netflix In Shelley's book, the Creature either directly murders or is responsible for the deaths of several innocent people as part as his quest for vengeance against Victor.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
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That included a pair of hunters named Victor Travis and Raymond Burgess; on the show, Gein hunts them down and murders them with a chainsaw.—
JR Radcliffe,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At Baku, however, the car looks to be a podium contender, potentially fighting for the win if McLaren slips up.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
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Along the way Texas needs to hope Seattle slips up, or else that final weekend in Cleveland could wind up being meaningless.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Fouls up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fouls%20up. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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