SCREWS UP Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

screws up

verb

present tense third-person singular of screw up

as in fumbles

to make a mistake we all screw up from time to time, so don't sweat it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in blows

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 screws up But what really screws up Julia are the deliveries. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026 Kyle tries to jump up the wall, lands awkwardly, and screws up his ankle. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026 Ego screws up most of the things in this life. — Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for screws up

Verb

So the associate who fumbles a membership conversation doesn’t need a lecture.

— Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
DeLand was driving inside the 20 yard line and Taihj Moore fumbles, recovered by Lake Mary.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of fumbles

Verb

Morgan blows a meeting with a publisher (Poorna Jagannathan, in her third of four high-profile TV role this year.

— Judy Berman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Miami fans had plenty to stress about as the UM offense misfired and Florida State responded to potential knockout blows with huge plays.

— Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of blows

Verb

Even as Heath stumbles his way through the lyrics, the audience respectfully claps along to the beat.

— Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Lizard Music follows a boy (Theo Clark Leber) left to his own devices who stumbles upon a secret late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music, and a hidden door to the extraordinary swings open.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of stumbles

Verb

At Baku, however, the car looks to be a podium contender, potentially fighting for the win if McLaren slips up.

— Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Along the way Texas needs to hope Seattle slips up, or else that final weekend in Cleveland could wind up being meaningless.

— Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 14 Sep. 2025

Definition of slips up

Browse Nearby Words

screws around

screws up

screwup

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“Screws up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screws%20up. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of screws up

verb

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