screws up

verb

present tense third-person singular of screw up
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

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 To make matters worse, Alex screws up again when Kerry, Fraser, and Kaylee leave with the guests for an excursion at the elephant sanctuary. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2026 But what really screws up Julia are the deliveries. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Mar. 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
  1. fumbles
  2. blows
  3. stumbles
  4. murders
  5. trips
  6. boots
  7. slips up
  8. dubs
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
  • The war in Iran, high gas prices, the stubbornly high cost of living, and blows to Trump’s popularity all contributed against the Republicans.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
  • As Paladin drives off, contract finally fulfilled, an estate guard with a rocket launcher blows his murder-van into flaming wreckage.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of blows
Verb
  • The horse stumbles, trapping Galadriel underneath as the figure, a ring-wearing nazgnagôl, strides toward her.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • This year, a gaunt, ravenous stranger stumbles out of the dark carrying something that eats its hosts from the inside out.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of stumbles
Verb
  • This included three of the women involved in the brutal Manson murders — Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten — all scheduled to be gassed.
    — M. Sara Rosenthal, STAT, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Joe almost murders Morgan (Sherry and Morgan in the same episode?
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of murders
Verb
  • This effectively reduces the Platinum status requirement to 130,000 TQPs and makes earning unlimited Companion Pass trips a bit easier.
    — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • And maybe trips like this can help the nomad way of life survive.
    — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of trips
Verb
  • Back at the hotel, Vision boots up his head-laser when Paladin’s drone approaches.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Olise always takes it and boots the ball straight out of play.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of boots
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
Verb
  • Disrupt Entertainment is producing new English language dubs with human actors providing the voices.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2026
  • There’s a hard deck on how low my esteem for a guy who dubs Reacher HoboCop can go.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of dubs

Browse Nearby Words

screws around
screws up
screwup
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Cite this Entry

“Screws up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screws%20up. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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