messing (up)

verb

present participle of mess (up)
1
as in fumbling
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
2
as in disrupting
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
3
as in stumbling
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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4
as in licking
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 messing (up)
  1. fumbling
  2. disrupting
  3. stumbling
  4. licking
  5. blowing
  6. confusing
  7. tripping
  8. pounding
Verb
  • The FactPostNews accounts gained millions of new followers and billions of impressions across platforms, and the organization largely avoided becoming a story itself after fumbling the release of its 2024 autopsy report.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
  • His wife, Galina, a noble beauty, excels at the role of the plumed bird in a cage and yet suffers for it, fumbling around awkwardly for an escape.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of fumbling
Verb
  • On one hand, actual output from several member countries remains below quota levels; on the other hand, Middle East conflicts disrupting critical shipping lanes introduce uncertainty over whether crude supplies can smoothly reach global markets.
    — , CNBC, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The African National Congress is on course to lose control of most of South Africa’s major cities in Wednesday’s local elections, according to polling data, potentially disrupting power dynamics in the national coalition government.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of disrupting
Verb
  • After stumbling into an intro to acting class, the 28-year-old quickly caught the professor’s attention.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The Chargers are the NFL’s only remaining winless team, stumbling to an 0-6 start for the first time since 2000.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of stumbling
Verb
  • That’s not exactly chump change, considering Atlanta was still licking its wounds after the Great Depression.
    — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
  • After contracting the plague, he was banished to a cave, where a dog brought him bread and healed his wounds by licking them.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of licking
Verb
  • The professional and business services sector, as the agency classifies it, gained 70,000 jobs, blowing past its average monthly gain of 15,000 over the past year.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Electric fireplaces produce heat by blowing air over heated coils or with infrared light and can be used with or without the heating function engaged.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of blowing
Verb
  • The decision to pursue short-term Band-Aid measures for a weak labor market and foreign trade tensions is confusing at first pass.
    — Oliver Melton, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Trump and his officials also offered confusing messages as to why Starshield — which Ukraine uses for drone strikes and air defense — had been throttled.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of confusing
Verb
  • Pittsburgh forward Tommy Novak, who scored and added an assist during a third-period rally, was called for tripping shortly after the teams returned to even strength.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Without adequate calf muscle strength, the calf muscles can fatigue quickly, leading to foot dragging or tripping.
    — Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of tripping
Verb
  • At the bottom of the slope, dozens of protective barriers have been installed as a buffer from waves pounding the shoreline.
    — Michele Gile, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • When defenses do catch up, McQuillan — like her teammates — have the green light to keep pounding away.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of pounding
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

messing over
messing (up)
messing (with)
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Cite this Entry

“Messing (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messing%20%28up%29. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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