mess up

[mes-uhp] / ˈmɛsˌʌp /

Part of Speech:

All (2) Verb (1) Noun (1)

Jump To:

VERB

create disorder; dirty; goof

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

NOUN

an error, mistake; confusion

Synonyms

STRONG

blunder faux pas gaffe goof mix-up muss shambles

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.

mess up

This is a trainwreck that is going to mess up your portfolio whether you own, buy or sell Nvidia.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2026

AI can mess up, and the stakes are higher when they’re acting in your name.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

"You don't want to mess up," Sending says, adding that the wrong gift could potentially derail any larger objectives.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

“There are going to be things that I mess up on,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

I hardly got to go anywhere either, so I wasn’t going to mess up my chance by crossing Raheem.

From "The Rock and the River" by Kekla Magoon

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