screwing up

verb

present participle of screw up
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

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwing up
  1. fumbling
  2. blowing
  3. slipping up
  4. mucking up
  5. stumbling
  6. tripping
Verb
  • The Sky rank 13th in the league with a 7-16 record after fumbling a fourth-quarter lead Sunday in a loss to the Dallas Wings.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
  • The Rockies’ Jake McCarthy pulled McDonald’s second pitch of the day into Triples Alley and never stopped running, taking advantage of right fielder Jung Hoo Lee fumbling the ball.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 July 2026
Definition of fumbling
Verb
  • But extraordinary pressure is building in the Middle East, and the new escalation could send oil blowing past those dubious milestones.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
  • Tamra is right; Shannon and some of the other cast are looking for things to get mad about, taking tiny things and blowing them up.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 July 2026
Definition of blowing
Verb
  • Arsenal are firmly in title-chasing mode and goal difference could still prove crucial, despite Manchester City slipping up against Everton on Monday.
    — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 7 May 2026
  • But knowing Olson’s proclivity for slipping up in hysterical fashion made the match that much more appealing.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 May 2026
Definition of slipping up
Verb
  • 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.
    — Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 7 May 2026
  • 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.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Definition of mucking up
Verb
  • Last year, a bison tragically boiled to death after stumbling into one of Yellowstone's hot springs.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
  • If your dog is stumbling, lethargic, vomiting, collapses or is unresponsive, contact a vet immediately while working to cool down your dog.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of stumbling
Verb
  • Among them was Argentina’s Leandro Paredes appearing to grab Spain’s Eric García by the throat before others started shoving and tripping each other to the turf.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
  • In March, Melissa Graybill, 52, watched her mother, who is 69, begin an arduous recovery journey after tripping while getting off a horse.
    — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 14 July 2026
Definition of tripping

Browse Nearby Words

screwing around
screwing up
screwlike
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screwing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwing%20up. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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