MESSED (UP) Synonyms: 244 Similar and Opposite Words

messed (up)

verb

past tense of mess (up)

as in fumbled

to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way messed up the drawing and had to start over

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disrupted

to undo the proper order or arrangement of a nap had messed up her hair and she looked a sight

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stumbled

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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as in licked

to strike repeatedly threatened that he would mess him up if he cheated at the game

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed (up)

Verb

On the fifth, Malik Washington fumbled after a 30-yard catch and run.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
For all of the anticipation of an explosive new offensive attack sparked by the arrival of new coordinator Mike McDaniel, the Chargers stumbled and fumbled their way through their season debut.

— Doug Haller, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of fumbled

Verb

China's ban on engineers and equipment last year had disrupted iPhone production, according to several media outlets.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026
Advertisement The Houthis previously disrupted shipping in 2024, in response to Israel’s occupation and bombardment of Gaza, and made a global impact.

— Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of disrupted

Verb

While Mayfield is 3-0 in Week 1 since coming to Tampa Bay in 2023, Burrow and the Bengals have often stumbled out of the gate.

— Joe Reedy, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
On this day in 1940, four teenage boys stumbled upon one of the world’s most significant archaeological finds—through a fox’s den, 50 feet down to an underground passageway, and into a network of caves.

— Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 10, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of stumbled

Verb

Tuxedo kitten Paolina bounced onto my chest and licked my fingers.

— Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of licked

Verb

From our first conversations, Jon blew us away with his intelligence and deep creative insights about how to craft great stories.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
The new Manchester City manager had already danced down the touchline to celebrate in front of the joyous away fans as soon as referee Michael Oliver blew the final whistle on a game that City had no right to win.

— Sam Lee, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of blew

Verb

Not to be confused with inverted full backs, an inverted winger is a wide player who is used on the opposite side of the pitch to their strong foot — so a left-footer on the right or a right-footer on the left.

— Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
William does not want the public confused about who officially represents the King.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of confused

Verb

An older man to my right tripped and took a face-first dive across the pavement, glasses flying off his face.

— Timothy Townsend, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Mizzou tripped Kansas 42-31 last season in Columbia, went 4-1 against the Jayhawks uninterrupted from 2007-11 at Arrowhead Stadium and also conquered KU 42-17 in 2006 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of tripped

Verb

Russia pounded Kyiv for more than 12 hours in a sixth straight night of attacks, killing at least 12 people including six railway workers and an Indian citizen, and devastating civilian districts.

— Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Floods of ‘destructive force’ blast through the canyon As the rain pounded the canyon Saturday, park officials received an alert from the National Weather Service warning of flash flooding in the area.

— Holly Yan, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of pounded

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.

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messed over

messed (up)

messed (with)

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“Messed (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed%20%28up%29. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of messed (up)

verb

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