Synonyms of screwup

screwup 1 of 2

noun

ˈskrü-ˌəp 

1

as in mistake

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy

clearly, there's been some sort of screwup about what time we were supposed to meet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mistake
• blunder
• error
• misstep
• flub
• fumble
• inaccuracy
• miscue
• goof
• gaffe
• trip
• stumble
• fault
• slipup
• brick
• gaff
• oversight
• lapse
• bobble
• clanger
• boob
• slip
• boo-boo
• fluff
• clinker
• snafu
• blooper
• pratfall
• misunderstanding
• miscalculation
• misjudgment
• howler
• bloomer
• misstatement
• misreading
• foul-up
• misinterpretation
• boner
• misconception
• misconstruction
• miscomprehension
• misapprehension
• misimpression
• misdescription

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accuracy
• precision
• correctness
• exactness
• strictness
• exactitude
• perfection
• infallibility
• preciseness
• inerrancy

2

as in butcher

someone who bungles an effort

don't ask the office screwup to arrange the holiday party

Synonyms & Similar Words

• butcher
• blunderer
• incompetent
• bungler
• bumbler
• blunderbuss
• fumbler
• botcher
• muddler

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• master
• expert
• virtuoso
• ace
• wizard
• maestro
• crackerjack
• adept

screw up

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to fumble

to make a mistake

we all screw up from time to time, so don't sweat it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fumble
• stumble
• trip
• slip up
• lay an egg
• drop the ball
• foul up
• goof (up)
• louse up
• blunder
• err
• nod
• fluff
• mess (up)
• mistake
• flub
• misunderstand
• boob
• murder
• butcher
• botch
• misjudge
• muff
• bungle
• misconceive
• mangle
• misdeem
• misgauge
• miscalculate
• foozle
• mishandle
• misinterpret
• misconstrue
• bobble
• miscount
• miscue

2

as in to blow

to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way

you've totally screwed up the spreadsheet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fumble
• blow
• ruin
• goof (up)
• foul up
• boot
• muck up
• murder
• dub
• destroy
• spoil
• louse up
• butcher
• bugger (up)
• botch
• mess (up)
• boggle
• bungle
• fluff
• muff
• mangle
• damage
• bollix (up)
• mar
• gum (up)
• foozle
• injure
• bumble
• flub
• bobble
• hurt
• wreck
• flaw
• impair
• harm
• muddle
• blunder
• mutilate
• blight
• vitiate
• blemish
• mismanage
• piffle
• mishandle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improve
• help
• better
• enhance
• remedy
• reform
• refine
• ameliorate
• rectify
• patch
• repair
• fix
• meliorate
• renovate
• revamp
• doctor
• recondition

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of screwup

Noun

Even Dougie, an inveterate screwup, isn’t without hidden depths—and Anthony, a natural hype man for whoever’s around, takes his plea for emotional support seriously, quickly becoming invested in a twisty succession crisis. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026

But the screwups don’t end there. — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025

Verb

That screwed up the works / And not due to his sloppy hiring / Of a crew of incompetent jerks. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

So not screwing up Spider-Man is about putting a beating heart at the center rather than a bunch of spectacle. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026