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
  • Ginger’s still stumbling over the revelation when McMann and Lonnie arrive to abduct her at gunpoint.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • After stumbling into an intro to acting class, the 28-year-old quickly caught the professor’s attention.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of stumbling
Verb
  • Again, like the Glacē facial, this part felt like a slug with a rough tongue licking my face—a weirdly pleasant sensation.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 10 Nov. 2026
  • That’s not exactly chump change, considering Atlanta was still licking its wounds after the Great Depression.
    — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of licking
Verb
  • With a stiff crosswind blowing, Rice (1-9, 0-6) used over seven minutes to drive to the Green Wave 20-yard line before Gael Ochoa was stopped on a fourth-and-1 run.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Nov. 2026
  • But treating someone to a little luxury doesn't have to mean blowing your holiday budget.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 14 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
  • Then, out of nowhere, his heart started pounding and his chest ached.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 14 Nov. 2026
  • Heavy rain pounding the Sacramento area began to swamp local roads and triggered a regional flood advisory Friday afternoon with the California Highway Patrol reporting numerous calls of roadway flooding across the region.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 13 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 15 Nov. 2026.

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