Definitions

screw up

VERB

make a mess of

Synonyms

STRONGEST

botch bungle confuse flub muddle spoil

WEAK

blow bobble bollix foul up goof goof up louse make hash of mess mess up mishandle mismanage muck up muff snafu

Antonyms

STRONGEST

clear up do well enlighten explain order organize succeed

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.

Logs can smoosh as they chill; imprecise slices screw up bake times.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

“I catch crocodiles, and a crocodile has never managed to screw up my ribs like that,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2025

In other words: “We screwed up, but we can screw up better.”

From MarketWatch • Oct. 27, 2025

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh insists Rangers did not "screw up" the process to appoint head coach Danny Rohl but admits it looked "clunky" from the outside.

From BBC • Oct. 22, 2025

And then James might screw up his face and make his eyes bulge, like Rick, the white college boy who ran the summer program.

From "The Contender" by Robert Lipsyte

screw up

Example Sentences

Related Words