mess (up)

1
2
3
4

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess (up)
Verb
  • Even the Chargers special teams had slipped up, as returner Derius Davis fumbled a kickoff return in the third quarter that led directly to 3 Broncos points.
    Daniel Popper, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Wide receiver Ladd McConkey returned the final two punts in relief of Davis, who fumbled on a third-quarter kickoff return that set up Lutz’s 42-yard field goal.
    Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Saltwater seeps into gardens, storms batter homes, and flooding disrupts daily life.
    Feleti Penitala Teo, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
  • The hurricane in August 2005 also seriously disrupted the production of oil and shut down refineries in the Gulf of America.
    Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After a rocky start, Joey stumbles on some talents and goes to great lengths to impress Leonard in his audition for a play.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2025
  • One of them had stumbled upon Sleep Token at a music festival a few years ago and had been hooked on the band’s teachings ever since, while the other had flown to New York from rural Texas just to be at the evening’s show.
    Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • During a bedtime conversation between Kaz and Caesar, for example, their dog keeps licking Caesar as Kaz tries to have a serious talk with him.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Posted to the account @maisythemarshmallow on September 19, the video shows the dog, named Maisy, lying calmly as the cat snuggles up and licks her face.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Lynx, who blew a 20-point third-quarter lead in Tuesday’s 89-83 overtime Game 2 loss, had a defensive meltdown early in the fourth as the Mercury scored the first seven points, including four at the rim, for a 70-67 lead.
    Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • December 21 - January 19) Losing steam around a course or trip?
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Farley, a former New York City health commissioner who teaches at Tulane University, acknowledged that many factors contribute to falls, including the physical impairments and deteriorating eyesight associated with advancing age; alcohol abuse; and tripping hazards in people’s homes.
    Paula Span, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • By bridging cutting-edge research with accessible, actionable advice, this book fills a critical gap in the menopause conversation — one that has left millions of women confused, underserved and unheard.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Others commented on the eeriness of discovering unfamiliar images in one’s personal gallery and the realization of how default app settings can confuse or alarm users.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Fairfax County Public Schools has been accused of hiding the allegations.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Water, despite its familiarity, still hides phases and behaviors waiting to be uncovered.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
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

Cite this Entry

“Mess (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20%28up%29. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!