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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
  • With personal terms already agreed then, all that’s left is for FC Barcelona to persuade City with its transfer package and not fumble this in a manner that would open the door to Real Madrid once more.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • And Cam Skattebo fumbled at the end of a long run when Layne punched the ball out and corner Korie Black recovered.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of fumble
Verb
  • Bondele was among hundreds of Ebola response workers in Bunia who staged strikes and protests over unpaid wages in recent weeks, at times abandoning health facilities and disrupting parts of the response as the outbreak continued to spread.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • And maybe some Gen Zers are undersocialized and under-prepared after their education was disrupted by a global pandemic.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of disrupt
Verb
  • According to The New York Times, a detective within the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department who had been assigned to dig into the Shakur cold case stumbled upon Davis’ memoir and used it as evidence to build his case against him.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Drunken dragonrider Ulf the White's rage proves pivotal Debaucherous dragonrider Ulf White (Tom Bennett) stumbles into playing a major role in the final battle with his dragon Silverwing.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • Her entire face got licked clean off her head when suburban floodwaters breached the cardboard hull protecting Kath’s basement memorabilia stack a few months before I was born.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • There’s truly nothing like licking that paper lid, then shoveling that tiny tongue depressor into a child-sized serving of vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of lick
Verb
  • Then a few months after the trumpets were blown, World War II broke out.
    — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • On a covered walkway between the Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas shrines this week, metal fans blow a cooling mist.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • The Studio Behind The Technology Annapurna Studios (not to be confused with the Megan Ellison-founded Annapurna Pictures in Hollywood) has been a cornerstone of Indian cinema for half a century.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • But there is the risk that his strategy will backfire by confusing investors.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of confuse
Verb
  • Pastor Richard Langness said the volunteer tripped, causing the torch to roll under a bush.
    — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Then Brown tripped, which nearly led to an interception, before Maye closed out the initial 11-on-11s on a high note.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of trip
Verb
  • Though males are wingless and females can fly short distances, that reproductive efficiency — combined with its tiny size and penchant for hiding in wood — has supercharged a rapid spread across South Africa.
    — Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Bosch reminded the public to lock their vehicles and hide valuables, noting that thieves often scan for unlocked cars by looking for extended side mirrors.
    — Peter D'Oench, CBS News, 12 Aug. 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 14 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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