GOOF (UP) Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

goof (up)

verb

Definition of goof (up)

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

Relevance

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

The Packers’ offense left the field, but came back after it was ruled that Watson was down before fumbling.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
In the bathroom, my fingers fumbled in the inner pocket of my jacket, searching for the passport.

— Ledio Cakaj, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of fumble

Verb

Two exes alleged Watts blew past their boundaries to satisfy his own needs.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026
First and foremost is the peak load of 75 W and 12 V DC support, which can charge your phone in about 35 minutes if the wind is blowing at top speeds.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of blow

Verb

As the trio grew up on Nebraska high school fields, the Huskers tripped and slipped to a 7-17 record during their senior seasons.

— Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
During competition, a number of humanoid robots have tripped, collapsed, burst into flames or slammed into safety barriers and then been stretchered off the track.

— Anna Coren, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of trip

Verb

That doesn’t mean the Yankees screwed up in their process by trading for Stanton.

— Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Every time a player screwed up, the coaching staff and his teammates received a text message, calling out both the infraction and the guilty party.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of screw up

Verb

The Miami Dolphins stumbled through a lopsided preseason loss to the New York Giants, sustained a key injury and continued sorting through roster questions before the season opener.

— Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026
Most injuries occurred as residents were tossed from beds or stumbled in the dark; trains and airport links were briefly disrupted, a Tokyo water main burst, and hundreds lost power.

— Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of stumble

Verb

The Iberians slipped up big time in their first match of the tournament, being shocked by Switzerland 1-0, bringing back ghosts of tournament failures past for Spanish fans.

— Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
But for taxpayers with a solid compliance history who slip up once, automatically applying relief—instead of reserving it for those who know to ask—is a welcome change.

— Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of slip up

Verb

In the end, though, neither an explosion nor a giant spill of fluid that could foul up waterways and the ocean occurred.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
An incorrect connection or approach can foul up a line, damage a plane or cause an accident.

— Tara Copp The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 25 May 2026

Definition of foul up

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

goofs (up)

goof (up)

goofy

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Style

“Goof (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goof%20%28up%29. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of goof (up)

verb

Example Sentences

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