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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in butcher
someone who bungles an effort
don't ask the office screwup to arrange the holiday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
2
as in to blow
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
you've totally screwed up the spreadsheet
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of screwup
Rebecca Ellis
follow, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
The interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya were massive screwups.
—Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2019
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 22 July 2025
Now the most popular thing on this carnival ride is the Home Run Derby, which isn’t baseball, but a show of strength — and to me, a clown show with juiced baseballs.
Tatis wisely chose to skip this Derby, which has been known to screw up swings.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwup
Noun
The screwup was first discovered by John Fasana, a former Duarte city councilmember who sits on the county’s governance reform task force, which is tasked with implementing the government overhaul.
—Rebecca Ellis
follow, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
The interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya were massive screwups.
—Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2019
Verb
Democrats are facing pressure to fight Trump, Republicans are cutting spending with the rescissions package, and somehow Congress always finds a way to screw up the regular spending bill process.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 22 July 2025
Now the most popular thing on this carnival ride is the Home Run Derby, which isn’t baseball, but a show of strength — and to me, a clown show with juiced baseballs.
Tatis wisely chose to skip this Derby, which has been known to screw up swings.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwup
Noun
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What’s the most common mistake people make when trying to recreate the Honey Deuce at home?—
Emily Cappiello,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
My experience has been that my mistakes led to the best things in my life.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The modern space includes stainless-steel appliances and sleek white cabinetry, with a butcher’s block island smack-dab in the center.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
14 July 2025
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The butchers employed an electrical stunner that resembles a pair of barbecue tongs.—
Bennet Goldstein,
jsonline.com,
4 July 2025
Verb
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Then the rookie fumbled late in the first quarter and absorbed a huge hit that prompted the concussion spotter to pull him off the field for an evaluation.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Ewers was sacked twice and fumbled the ball both times, losing possession.—
Omar Kelly
August 11,
Miami Herald,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The foghorn blew every 30 seconds and pelicans sailed above, doing a quick half corkscrew turn before diving.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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United’s prospective new owner, Michael Knighton, was on the pitch beforehand, ball-juggling and blowing kisses to the crowd, and Neil Webb smashed one in from 25 yards on his debut — wild stuff, honestly (yeah, get on with it, Grandad).—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Target’s brief foray into Canada is still considered one of the biggest foreign blunders by a major US retailer.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
20 Aug. 2025
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This instance, and several other AI blunders, have led to companies such as McDonald's and Klarna rolling back on AI policies.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Indeed, the Braves overcame an early 5-1 deficit in the series opener Tuesday with four runs in the fourth inning to tie the score, only to give it right back on a night when Spencer Strider stumbled, tying a career high with eight runs allowed in four innings.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
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The Wave have been fortunate that Orlando and Washington have also stumbled, keeping the gap small.—
Fernando Ramirez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Her Altadena home and the surrounding community were ruined by the Eaton wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles in January.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
14 Aug. 2025
-
But a sewer backup during this weekend's historic flood ruined 60 of the backpacks, Maya Bell reports.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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When applied across a $500 million capital investment in net new builds—where UPS systems might account for only a small portion—the effect is at less than 1%, effectively a rounding error in the overall budget.—
Ryan Mallory,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Christian Kuntz for making a bunch of errors at the hot corner.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screwup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwup. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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