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
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Recent Examples of screwing up
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
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 Feb. 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
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 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 Feb. 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
Verb
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There was an emotional honesty that embraced the idea that growth isn’t always linear (see Andie from The Devil Wears Prada, fumbling a relationship with a good guy because her career came first).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
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Be ill-prepared for Christmas and face the danger of fumbling your most profitable time of the year.—
Kamal Ahmed,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In addition, strong winds over desert areas could result in briefly lowered visibilities to well under a mile at times in blowing dust or blowing sand.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
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This kind of build-up is unusual because volatile elements like sodium, which can get exposed after an object is blasted with micrometeorites, are usually later depleted by solar winds blowing from the sun and the general influence of space.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But with more exposure comes more risk of slipping up.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
15 Apr. 2026
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Other people’s opinions, or slipping up and saying the wrong thing?—
Jordan Robinson,
SELF,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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What's mucking up the process is a telepathic outlier named The Mule (Pilou Asbæk), whose ravenous appetite for galactic dominance has created anomalies in Seldon's branching prognostications of how this whole ordeal will unfold.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The title track, with its glassy melody and woozy, almost stumbling groove, deploys wholesome, end-of-the-night, comedown energy not unlike Bicep’s most beloved tracks.—
Reid BG,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
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Pack comfortable shoes and enjoy stumbling upon the secrets of the city.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After Dobes was penalized for tripping Yanni Gourde, Point took Jake Guentzel’s centering pass and ripped a shot past Dobes’ blocker from the high slot.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Cellphone video shot by a bystander then showed the man tripping and falling on his face as officers aggressively detained him moments later.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screwing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwing%20up. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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