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
-
Last year, Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor celebrated prematurely and fumbled the ball through the back of the end zone on what was going to be a 41-yard TD run.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025 -
Slightly concerning given that Mims has already fumbled one punt this season.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As Congress inches closer to a possible government shutdown, many federal services North Carolinians depend on might be disrupted.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The evacuation disrupted regular campus activities and prompted swift coordination between school administrators and law enforcement.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Except, of course, for that old dinosaur that somehow stumbled into a misplaced DeLorean, fired up the flux capacitor, and time travelled from the stone ages straight to the Uli beach.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Oct. 2025
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Determined to keep searching, Hollie eventually stumbled on a TLC episode featuring a boy named Gio, who also had Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Show Viz Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest had counter-attacking licked.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The afternoon sun licked the windscreen of the car, and the heat boiled my skin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lethargic and confused in their play.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Oxygen bleach soaks—Oxygen bleach (not to be confused with chlorine bleach) is a gentle yet powerful whitening agent.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Fighting Irish pounded Arkansas on the road and won with a much higher margin of victory than Ole Miss had against the Razorbacks.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Palestinians flee new offensive Mirna Alsharif Thousands of Palestinians fled northern Gaza with their belongings as Israel forces pounded the enclave's largest city.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Georges Mikautadze tripped before getting back on his feet to score Villarreal’s 18th-minute opener from a Nicolas Pepe assist.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In the Cowboys’ lone OT possession, inside the Packers’ 5-yard line, Dak was feeling some pressure, and running when he was barely tripped from behind by his old teammate to return to the original line of scrimmage.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Conservatives on social media immediately lashed out at the news.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Some Bethpage fans lashed out in a way that added to the embarrassment of the day.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
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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 6 Oct. 2025.
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