1
as in fumbled
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
messed up the drawing and had to start over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disrupted
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 stumbled
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 licked
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 messed (up)
Verb
-
Cornell fumbled with Mercader’s clothing, trying to find them.—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026 -
When Kahn fumbled Rivaldo’s shot from the edge of the box, Ronaldo was on hand to convert the rebound.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The business for L’Oréal — a bellwether — remained soft in 2025, especially due to the channel in China being temporarily disrupted by the suspension of the duty-free members app Sunrise and a change in domestic airport operators.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara flights have continued to be disrupted, with the alert citing flight-crew availability.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Along the way, Cindy stumbled a bit and dropped her luggage in front of me.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
-
One regular shopper stumbled upon the scene of the shooting.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Legend has it that when Buddha was painting the sky, blue pigment dripped onto the floor and his inquisitive chow chow licked the puddle, coloring the dog’s tongue permanently.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Though his injuries were severe, the sailors watched in wonder as the cat determinedly licked his wounds, then got back to work destroying the rats threatening the ship’s food stores.—
Anne Ewbank,
Popular Science,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These earrings are often confused by a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings once owned and worn by Princess Diana—which Kate also wears from time to time.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
-
According to the department, a CCPD officer quickly found the woman confused and cold, but otherwise unharmed.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Despite the novelty of this world having been exhausted on me long ago, seeing twelve identical borzois in a row, echoing the ornate, spindly verticality of a Gothic revival palace, still tripped me out.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
But Konan’s lawyer pointed out that the government similarly warned about crippling lawsuits when the Supreme Court, in 2006, considered a case brought by a woman who tripped over mail left on her porch.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Russian missiles and drones in recent months have pounded Ukraine’s energy grid, plunging people into frozen darkness in one of the country’s coldest winters on record.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Sweat dripped, pulses pounded, and for a fleeting few hours, nothing beyond the walls of (SUB)MERCER seemed to matter, offering a rare escape no one seemed ready to let go of.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Cutrone previously lashed out at Jay Manuel for criticizing Banks on the Netflix project.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
-
At least 25 Mexican National Guard troops were killed, Mexican authorities say, as supporters of the slain cartel boss took to the streets and lashed out in a spasm of violence that spread across the country.—
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Messed (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed%20%28up%29. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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