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messing up

VERB

disorder, dirty

Synonyms

WEAK

befoul besmirch bobble bollix botch bungle clutter confuse damage derange destroy disarrange discompose dishevel disorganize disturb foul goof up gum up jumble litter louse up muddle pollute ruin rummage scramble screw up smear soil spoil unsettle upset

Antonyms

WEAK

arrange order organize tidy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s a song about a ne’er-do-well who can’t help messing up, and Mr. Kahan wishes the best for him—hoping his greatest fears are earthly threats like personal safety and cancer and not eternal damnation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

I’m always nervous, and I’m always messing up jokes.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025

Standing behind him were a few city staffers who had worked tirelessly to get the Roosevelt running, and he commended them, messing up the name of one person and the title of another.

From Slate • Jul. 17, 2025

"He's cooking, messing up stuff, making mistakes all over the place, and we're laughing about it."

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2025

I’m probably messing up our whole privacy system because I’m teaching Mama to read.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez