1
as in fumbled
to make a mistake
we all screw up from time to time, so don't sweat it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in blew
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
you've totally screwed up the spreadsheet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of screwed up
The two screwed up a top-rope stunner as Excalibur struggled to explain what happened like a 2026 Jim Ross.
—
Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
The Sens are going to lose their pick for nothing at all, because of how a GM their fans didn’t like screwed up a trade his team wasn’t even involved in.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
That might be kind of screwed up.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
That seems like our priorities are screwed up.
—Terry Gross, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
Kid Rock‘s lip-synch was screwed up.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
The climate may get screwed up in new ways as scientists attempt to turn the planet’s temperature dial down.
—Christian Elliott, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
What Mager is showing here is the difference between kids and adults, the openness and willingness to be bold and confront things head on with matter-of-fact honesty in a world that is being screwed up by their elders and those in charge.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
In a world of near-constant conference realignment and the transfer portal, the annual Red River Rivalry game at the State Fair of Texas is one of the few things the sport hasn’t screwed up.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2025
Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
The Sens are going to lose their pick for nothing at all, because of how a GM their fans didn’t like screwed up a trade his team wasn’t even involved in.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
That might be kind of screwed up.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
That seems like our priorities are screwed up.
—Terry Gross, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
Kid Rock‘s lip-synch was screwed up.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
The climate may get screwed up in new ways as scientists attempt to turn the planet’s temperature dial down.
—Christian Elliott, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
What Mager is showing here is the difference between kids and adults, the openness and willingness to be bold and confront things head on with matter-of-fact honesty in a world that is being screwed up by their elders and those in charge.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
In a world of near-constant conference realignment and the transfer portal, the annual Red River Rivalry game at the State Fair of Texas is one of the few things the sport hasn’t screwed up.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwed up
Verb
-
During Miami’s two periods of special teams work Malik Washington fumbled his first kickoff return, but most of the other punt returners and kickoff returned fielded their attempts well.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
-
Given how badly Karen Bass has fumbled as mayor, Raman couldn’t do much worse.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The 2006 Royals had the worst bullpen ERA in baseball and blew 31 saves.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
-
The Boston Celtics blew a 3-1 lead to the 76ers in the first round and the Detroit Pistons lost to the Cavaliers in seven games in the second round.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Soto, wounded, stumbled into the Wingstop seeking help.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
During the investigation, the team unexpectedly stumbled upon a cellular pathway that blocked the virus from entering lung cells, SWNS reported.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Items that fall in the toilet are soggy, in need of sanitizing, and possibly ruined.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
-
Our house, ruined by the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, was rebuilt from the foundation up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Had Pep Guardiola’s side slipped up at a subdued Etihad, then Arsenal and Mikel Arteta could have won the title with victory over Burnley on Monday.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
And while Conrad was the one who slipped up at the peach orchard in Episode 5, Belly’s the one to blame in Seadon 3, Episode 6.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But their strategy was fouled up when the car’s occupants switched on the headlights, throwing a glare up the tote road along which the wardens had planned to sprint.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Wild turkeys gobbled up Staten Island straphangers’ time on Monday, after a flock fouled up service on the Staten Island Railway.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Drawing 0-0 at home with Brentford in March, the visitors should have conceded a penalty and been put down to 10 men when Tavernier was tripped in the area by Michael Kayode.—
Graham Scott,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
In the summer of 1953, while playing with his brother in a trio at Conneaut Lake, Negri tripped over a pretty girl on the beach, Joni Serafini of Squirrel Hill.—
Tribune News Service,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Even in the harshest descriptions of the violence and almost unbelievably cruel twists of fate that Yarris endured (the DNA testing keeps getting accidentally mucked up), Brody lends him a vital indomitable spark.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Toronto is a good defensive team but doesn’t shoot the 3-ball well and has a half-court offense that can get mucked up and relies heavily on midrange jumpers.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screwed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwed%20up. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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