1
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
clearly, there's been some sort of screwup about what time we were supposed to meet
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in butcher
someone who bungles an effort
don't ask the office screwup to arrange the holiday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to fumble
to make a mistake
we all screw up from time to time, so don't sweat it
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to blow
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 screwup
Al Weaver, The Hill, 27 Jan. 2025
No room for screwups, especially while the team was fighting for equal pay and better treatment from U.S. Soccer.
—Steph Yang, The Athletic, 25 July 2024
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 18 May 2025
But in laymen's terms, given the huge number of emergency appeals about Trump administration policies, this could really screw up justices' summer.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwup
Noun
But Republicans are quick to note: One major screwup before any of the committees could harm any of them irreparably.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 27 Jan. 2025
No room for screwups, especially while the team was fighting for equal pay and better treatment from U.S. Soccer.
—Steph Yang, The Athletic, 25 July 2024
Verb
As the professional in the room, that face is often screwed up in frustration when the camera isn’t rolling.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 18 May 2025
But in laymen's terms, given the huge number of emergency appeals about Trump administration policies, this could really screw up justices' summer.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwup
Noun
-
The Cubs, though, have provided structure, positive reinforcement and the runway to make mistakes and figure out what works.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
15 June 2025
-
Status threat, risk of irrelevance, and making mistakes are common barriers.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Noun
-
At first Spielberg gives you elusive but evocative shots of fins, as well as the shark's own underwater perspective of potential human meals swimming above (to the shark, those legs must look like hams hanging in a butcher’s shop).—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
21 June 2025
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Her latest restaurant project is with Chef Philip Tessier, who’s launching Understudy, a culinary destination in Napa featuring a patisserie, butcher, teaching kitchen, and a culinary museum.—
Kristen Philipkoski,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Verb
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United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır fumbled the ball on the edge of his area, allowing Villa forward Morgan Rogers to take possession and put the ball into the net.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
-
Minnesota Vikings: Aaron Jones — Jones came up in the discussion about fumbling, but that will not stop him from being the leading backfield producer for the Vikings.—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2025
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Dort may not have picked up a foul on this particular play, part of a special second-half suffocation of Haliburton, but there are other moments like this when an official blows the whistle.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
Noun
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Other big moments in Trump’s presidency include the leak of U.S. military attack plans to Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, what was widely considered to be the first major blunder of his second term.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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By the 10th, all those blunders faded into the background of their third win in three tries since Posey’s shocking flurry of roster moves.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Scott made the turn at even-par but a bogey-bogey-double bogey stumble from holes Nos. 14-16 ended his tournament.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
-
Then in 2022, with escalating inflation and consumer pressure, the stock stumbled again with a 63% drop.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Verb
-
The front nine, which has ruined more than a handful of U.S. Open rounds over the last two days, proved to be much tougher.—
Troy Finnegan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Sara Schilling,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Many small business workers may not have digital access or face language barriers when missing paperwork or tech errors can result in automatic loss of coverage.—
Rhett Buttle,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
-
That poll surveyed 658 Virginia residents between May 12 and May 19, and has a weighted margin of error of 5.25 percent.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screwup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwup. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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