1
as in fumbling
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 disrupting
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 stumbling
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 licking
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 messing (up)
Verb
-
When the first part of season four ends with Benedict fumbling through a disastrous proposal that Sophie become his mistress, Ha does not crumple or explode in fury.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026 -
Gibson rushed for 1,000 yards in his second season, then suffered from fumbling issues over his final years with the Commanders.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Impeding and disrupting the performance of official duties of government employees.—
Julia Coin
February 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Alarm over health harms accelerates Concern over the risks of flame retardants, heavy metals, pesticides and endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mimic hormones in the body has been growing as more studies point to serious health impacts.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mercader pushed Trotsky to the floor and, running and stumbling, escaped from the room.—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
He’s saved by a drunken Ser Arlan, who comes stumbling into the alley and instinctively follows his knightly code to defend the innocent.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Son disappeared from public view, licking his wounds while also plotting his comeback.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Messi’s complaints were wafer-thin after a 3-0 licking by LAFC, but that didn’t stop him from venting hard in this video captured by a Mexican journalist after the final whistle.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Another underestimated hazard is blowing dust.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The goal was ill-gotten, as the officials missed Perfetti tripping Mason McTavish, a play that led directly to the scoring sequence.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Toronto center Nicolas Roy was called for tripping, and Carter Verhaeghe scored on the power play with a close-range shot that went over Woll’s shoulder.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Dozens of flights between the East Coast and Los Angeles International Airport were cancelled Monday morning due to the blizzard that is pounding a large swath of the nation’s Eastern Seaboard.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
In the meantime, Sarandos has been pounding the drum of more Paramount pain to come.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The reason is that missing information and others’ gaslighting are confusing your mind.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2026
-
According to Sara Nibler, a recruiter at Redballoon who places candidates in roles ranging from manufacturing to media, job seekers are increasingly confusing the convenience of Zoom with an excuse to abandon basic professional etiquette.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
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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 3 Mar. 2026.
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