1
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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2
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
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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
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
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Tensions between the galley and the interior continue to escalate over lunch service, when a radio mishap fumbles the order in which the food should go out.
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The movie fumbles the chance to do something arresting with this seminal period in art.
Verb
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More likely Brock Lesnar blows this thing up.
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Cher’s court documents paint a bleak picture of how Allman, 49, allegedly blows through his $120,000 annual trust distributions.
Verb
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In it, the man stumbles around, blinded by the sun, surrounded by insensible tourists.
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The conversation stumbles on for a few moments, but Crook can’t find the words.
Verb
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Moriarty has reported on the yogurt shop murders for over 30 years.
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Not the family stuff, like Natalie’s spontaneous nipple piercing after making out with Cady’s maybe-daughter, Nevaeh (Malia Pyles), who later murders her own mother after kissing her, for way too long, on the mouth.
Verb
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Early on in the clip, Jake Johnson’s former tennis star Dusty Boyd trips over the net and injures his wrist in a bad way.
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Longer trips sail to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
Verb
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Dominic Zvada boots a 31-yard field goal to give the Wolverines the lead.
Verb
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At Baku, however, the car looks to be a podium contender, potentially fighting for the win if McLaren slips up.
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Along the way Texas needs to hope Seattle slips up, or else that final weekend in Cleveland could wind up being meaningless.
Verb
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Cushing, Oklahoma, dubs itself the pipeline crossroads of the world.
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This results in what Atlassian dubs the fragmentation tax.
Cite this Entry
“Screws up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screws%20up. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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