lousing up

verb

present participle of louse up
1
as in fumbling
to make a mistake everything is riding on this project, so we can't afford to louse up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in screwing up
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way I loused up the wallpapering job in the bedroom—the seams show too much

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lousing up
  1. fumbling
  2. screwing up
  3. stumbling
  4. blowing
  5. slipping up
  6. mucking up
  7. tripping
Verb
  • Most of the world was fumbling and scared, and Fauci seemed to have some idea of what to do.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Achane, the Miami Dolphins’ starting tailback, was referring to Ollie Gordon II fumbling the ball away in Wednesday practice, the team’s first of training camp.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of fumbling
Verb
  • So not screwing up Spider-Man is about putting a beating heart at the center rather than a bunch of spectacle.
    — Chris Lee, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The fear of failure can do as much harm as actually screwing up.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of screwing up
Verb
  • Such a contrast to the wonderful Bootham Crescent, York’s home until 2020 and within stumbling distance of not only the famous Minster but all the city’s many other attractions.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The most underachieving team on the Los Angeles sports landscape is embarrassingly stumbling through another season.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of stumbling
Verb
  • City leaders have accused Lineage, whose warehouse in Boyle Heights was destroyed by fire, of blowing past the city’s 45-day deadline for removing millions of pounds of rotting food from its property.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Inequality has accelerated at an ever-growing pace, blowing past that of any previous eras, including the Gilded Age.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of blowing
Verb
  • Arsenal are firmly in title-chasing mode and goal difference could still prove crucial, despite Manchester City slipping up against Everton on Monday.
    — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 7 May 2026
  • But knowing Olson’s proclivity for slipping up in hysterical fashion made the match that much more appealing.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 May 2026
Definition of slipping up
Verb
  • But life has a way of mucking up even the best plans, sometimes all at once and sometimes bit by bit and usually a little of both.
    — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Amid the memory shortage that's mucking up component prices globally, at least Qualcomm has some promising news for folks hoping to pay less for a daily driver.
    — Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 7 May 2026
Definition of mucking up
Verb
  • The plumbing was failing, the floors were uneven and posed tripping hazards, the foundation was crumbling and sewage sometimes backed up into a corner of the kitchen.
    — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Today, Hollywood agencies, studios and streamers are tripping over themselves to sign digital talent.
    — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of tripping
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

lousiness
lousing up
lousy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lousing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lousing%20up. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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