1
as in to fumble
to make a mistake
we must have goofed up somewhere, because this cake clearly didn't turn out right
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to blow
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
he goofed up his first sale at the dealership
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goof (up)
Verb
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The lawyer suggested the doctors at the Meadows fumbled Spacey’s treatment because their program was geared toward addiction.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026 -
The Warriors had a chance to send the game to overtime on the final possession of regulation, but Post, who hit four 3s on the night, fumbled the catch and turned the ball over, leaving the Knicks with the ball as the shot clock expired.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Plan on a brisk Friday afternoon and evening as much colder air blows into Maryland.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
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When the wind blows, toxic dust blankets Salt Lake City and other towns along the Wasatch Front, one of the fastest-growing regions in one of the fastest-growing states in the country.—
Shawn Regan,
Washington Post,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This year’s Loons have tripped out of the gate, with only four out of a possible 12 points.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Diana Moss, vice president and director of competition policy at the Progressive Policy Institute, said that the Paramount-HBO streaming combination would not trip federal guidelines for a merger, unlike Netflix-HBO.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kansas City Royals ace Cole Ragans stumbled off the mound in the first inning of Friday evening’s season opener at Truist Park.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
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Bleeding heavily, Waaler stumbles into a corridor and slowly takes his last breath as Hole, who jumped out at the floor above and ran back downstairs, watches, gun in hand.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But what really screws up Julia are the deliveries.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
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The Sens are going to lose their pick for nothing at all, because of how a GM their fans didn’t like screwed up a trade his team wasn’t even involved in.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Other people’s opinions, or slipping up and saying the wrong thing?—
Jordan Robinson,
SELF,
19 Mar. 2026
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So, why do knowledgeable fans or media slip up in that fashion?—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Now, months later, residents say the gunfire has shattered their peace, ruining quiet strolls and sunsets on the neighborhood’s lakes.—
Christopher Spata,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
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Everything looked incredible… until the teams started playing and ruined it a bit.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Karaban almost had a costly turnover on an inbound play with 14 seconds left, but the Huskies fouled up three and Mulready split his free throw attempts, setting up the game-clinching freebies from the Huskies’ captain.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Goof (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goof%20%28up%29. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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