screw up

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.

Not only does it screw up seasonal adjustments, but many laid-off workers tend to wait until after the holiday to apply for benefits.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

"I was able to screw up as a teenager and not have it filmed and amplified all over the place."

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

“If we screw up and can’t fix it, we should fail, and other companies will continue on doing good work and servicing customers,” Altman wrote in a lengthy X post.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

Forget throwing soup on the “Mona Lisa” — the Bezos wedding protesters might do something truly offensive: They are threatening to screw up traffic on the big day.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2025

Staring at the berries, I screw up the courage to tell Esme what’s been on my mind.

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt