1
as in fumbling
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 blowing
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 screwing up
Myers nails the realistic teen who is a far cry from the unflappable Nancy Drew, screwing up plenty and often terrified of what she's gotten herself into.
—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
First of all, don’t hide misdeeds and screwups, which comes naturally by not committing misdeeds and not screwing up.
—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
These days, revivals that just manage to come and go without screwing up are seen as, if not a success, than an acceptable effort.
—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
Right now, Iranians are blaming, appropriately, the regime for screwing up the country.
—
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Tim overcame his fear of screwing up again and asked Lucy to move in.
—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
After screwing up his job interview, Anders tries to see his sister, who’s been burned by him one too many times and sends her girlfriend to run interference.
—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
First of all, don’t hide misdeeds and screwups, which comes naturally by not committing misdeeds and not screwing up.
—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
These days, revivals that just manage to come and go without screwing up are seen as, if not a success, than an acceptable effort.
—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
Right now, Iranians are blaming, appropriately, the regime for screwing up the country.
—
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Tim overcame his fear of screwing up again and asked Lucy to move in.
—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
After screwing up his job interview, Anders tries to see his sister, who’s been burned by him one too many times and sends her girlfriend to run interference.
—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwing up
Verb
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My first few hours with the EM11 NL were marked by overshooting links, fumbling through simple selections, and occasionally wondering why anyone would voluntarily use a vertical mouse.
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Bennett is concerned, for instance, that Hong could win her primary and then be defeated in November by Republican Tom Tiffany, fumbling the governorship of a swing state into the hands of a far-right Freedom Caucus member who dabbled in 2020 election conspiracy theories.
Verb
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The Green Bay Packers were arguably the NFL's most disappointing team in 2025, finishing 9-8-1 after blowing multiple double-digit leads, including a 21-3 halftime advantage in their Wild Card loss to Chicago.
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Finally, during penalties, Paraguay was up 3-2 and needed to make only one more kick before missing its last two, nearly blowing the match.
Verb
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Arsenal are firmly in title-chasing mode and goal difference could still prove crucial, despite Manchester City slipping up against Everton on Monday.
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But knowing Olson’s proclivity for slipping up in hysterical fashion made the match that much more appealing.
Verb
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Amid the memory shortage that's mucking up component prices globally, at least Qualcomm has some promising news for folks hoping to pay less for a daily driver.
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At least not Will Welch, GQ’s longstanding editor-in-chief and global editorial director, who was absolutely zen about the threat of an atmospheric river mucking up the mag’s Men of the Year celebration last night.
Verb
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also fallen foul of Germany’s World Cup elimination by Paraguay, after stumbling into a social media debacle following a communications blunder.
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There's been some stumbling plays, thwarted by tripping and dramatic falls.
Verb
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Neural pathways controlling core bodily functions — feeling in the limbs, movement and breathing — were collapsing one by one, like circuit breakers tripping in rapid succession.
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The primary question is whether this crowded field of new entrants is actually accomplishing anything, or whether its members are simply tripping over one another with deleterious impact.
Cite this Entry
“Screwing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwing%20up. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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