screwed up

verb

past tense of screw up
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

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.
Recent Examples of screwed up But four years ago, Sorsby screwed up in a massive way. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwed up
  1. fumbled
  2. blew
  3. stumbled
  4. ruined
  5. slipped up
  6. fouled up
  7. tripped
  8. mucked up
Verb
  • The Giants scored the game’s first run in the top of the third when Mariners center fielder Luke Raley fumbled the ball on Bryce Eldridge’s single with runners on first and second.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 July 2026
  • Basabe, 48, fumbled his way through the trial, often seeming confused about the legal proceedings.
    — Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of fumbled
Verb
  • The night quickly blew open from there, a 10-7 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies that was uglier than the final score and further sank Sheehan’s season.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • As the final seconds ticked down on Spain’s 1-0 extra-time win over a valiant Argentina and the referee blew his whistle, one could be forgiven for their mind once again slipping to memories of La Roja’s maiden World Cup victory.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of blew
Verb
  • Lundgren got out from the driver’s side of the vehicle, stumbled across the opposing lane of traffic, and leaped over the side of the bridge into Table Rock Lake below, the sheriff said.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 22 July 2026
  • Evans stumbled into it and is still visibly working out what to do with it.
    — Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of stumbled
Verb
  • What once was a world of fellowship has been ruined, covered in a pall of fear.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • Dial said his arrest went on his record and ruined his career as an investment broker.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of ruined
Verb
  • The Iberians slipped up big time in their first match of the tournament, being shocked by Switzerland 1-0, bringing back ghosts of tournament failures past for Spanish fans.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of slipped up
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
Definition of fouled up
Verb
  • Bueckers was set in a defensive stance at the top of the key when Ogwumike raced down the court, dished off a pass and tripped, crashing into Bueckers.
    — Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2026
  • My diabetic husband then tripped over our suitcases and was injured.
    — Josh Rivera, USA Today, 19 July 2026
Definition of tripped
Verb
  • An exciting World Cup run mucked up by a president for whom muck might as well be a currency.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of mucked up

Browse Nearby Words

screwed around
screwed up
screwing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screwed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwed%20up. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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