mess (up)

verb

Definition of mess (up)next
1
as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way messed up the drawing and had to start over

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of a nap had messed up her hair and she looked a sight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to stumble
to make a mistake if anyone messes up even once while we're recording, we have to start all over again

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4
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly threatened that he would mess him up if he cheated at the game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess (up)
  1. fumble
  2. disrupt
  3. stumble
  4. lick
  5. blow
  6. confuse
  7. trip
  8. hide
Verb
  • Three plays later, Austin Simmons hit Cayden Lee, who got blasted by a Longhorn defender and fumbled to set up the game-sealing Texas TD.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2026
  • And four plays after Browne fumbled at his own 2, Washington scored on 1 -yard plunge.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of fumble
Verb
  • Other law enforcement agencies, such as the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, had their email communications disrupted.
    — Brittney Ermon, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Abha Khanna, an attorney for Peltola's campaign, said during arguments Tuesday before Matthews the campaign wasn't seeking to disrupt the ballot counting process.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of disrupt
Verb
  • The last chance for the Mountaineers ended when Hawkins stumbled and fell in the end zone for a safety in the final two minutes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • For seven games, Myles Garrett could only watch the Rams from a stadium suite, on television or from the sideline as the team favored to win the Super Bowl stumbled to a slow start.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • Just tear open a tube and let your four-legged friend lick away.
    — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026
  • As Republicans attempt to distance themselves from the midterm shellacking and lick their wounds, Rubio's name appears to be floating around.
    — News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of lick
Verb
  • The Jets blew a nine-point halftime lead and wasted a 33-point afternoon against a Raiders team that had lost four straight.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • As the final whistle blew at CPKC Stadium, signaling victory for the Kansas City Current in a Saturday playoff match, a release of joy swept across the field.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • Nearly all of the 70,000-plus fans in attendance — even the half of the stadium that was wearing Denver Broncos orange — were confused.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Neither party should confuse a vote with a lifetime commitment.
    — Jose M. Muñoz, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of confuse
Verb
  • On this day in 1922, according to the popular account, a boy tripped on a stone and kicked off one of the greatest archaeological finds in history.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Without adequate calf muscle strength, the calf muscles can fatigue quickly, leading to foot dragging or tripping.
    — Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of trip
Verb
  • State officials are hiding public information like never before.
    — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Or does the making of art simply help the artist to hide behind another layer of artifice?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of hide
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

mess over
mess (up)
mess (with)
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Cite this Entry

“Mess (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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