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
-
In the 88th minute, Neuer fumbled a routine shot and allowed Joselu to equalise.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026 -
Fans were exiting en masse in the top of the ninth when Frelick’s RBI single off Rule 5 rookie Ryan Watson, fumbled by reigning AL Gold Glove centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, increased Milwaukee’s lead to three.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Richardson said that the loss of grizzlies disrupted the state’s ecosystems and eliminated an animal that was so synonymous with California that its image remains on the state flag, on water bottles and in the names of its university teams.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The vaccination campaign for measles was disrupted during Bangladesh's recent political upheavals.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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An Easter Sunday celebration at a Long Beach, California park took a disturbing turn when a person searching for hidden eggs stumbled upon a human skull partially buried in dense brush.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In trading Angel Reese yesterday, this franchise stumbled upon a crossroad.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rumor has it the fashion crowd licked the shelves clean in Paris as soon as the first designs hit stores.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Of course, the flue was closed, so the fire licked up the walls, left a smell like the fall, like ancient smokehouses and dung.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This was not to be confused with the Ulster Volunteer Force or the Ulster Defence Association, both terrorist organizations that vehemently favored the link with Britain.—
Colm Tóibín,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
And at least one fan confused the two very different men by sending a photo of Jack Black in his Mandalorian getup to Third Man Records, and requesting an autograph.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In one video, a horse tripped on a curb and fell over, toppling its rider before running off.—
Nick Sullivan
April 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Wembanyama had tripped over his shoelace, the referees determined.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When the ball missed, the mascots howled with laughter; one of them, a big yellow mountain lion, pounded the ground.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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The villagers huddled in their church for protection as Israeli warplanes pounded large swaths of southern and eastern Lebanon while Israeli troops stepped up a ground invasion and Hezbollah kept firing rockets at Israel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Suarez lashed seven shots towards goal on his debut against Casa Pia, going closest after a stomping run in-behind the defence and a sharp shot into the side netting.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Spencer Pratt lashed out at the Los Angeles Times and a rival mayoral candidate, accusing a reporter of harassing his family and trying to expose where his children live as his campaign gains traction in the polls.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 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 11 Apr. 2026.
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