1
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
clearly, there's been some sort of screwup about what time we were supposed to meet
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in butcher
someone who bungles an effort
don't ask the office screwup to arrange the holiday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to fumble
to make a mistake
we all screw up from time to time, so don't sweat it
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to blow
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of screwup
ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
Maeve sits down with Eddie, who feels down because everyone in the family views him as a screwup.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 6 Apr. 2025
Sarah Felbin, SELF, 10 June 2025
All day, people drop in rumors about trades, assertions based on stats, and complaints about whichever Knick is screwing up the worst.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwup
Noun
Fei-hung is a fan of drunken boxing, and his father disapproves of this and other screwups, kicking his son out of the house.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
Maeve sits down with Eddie, who feels down because everyone in the family views him as a screwup.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
Rice is notoriously easy to screw up, and quick rice can get a bad rap.
—Sarah Felbin, SELF, 10 June 2025
All day, people drop in rumors about trades, assertions based on stats, and complaints about whichever Knick is screwing up the worst.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwup
Noun
-
Skull emoji: This emoji is often used to mock someone's mistake or appearance.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
21 July 2025
-
But when mistakes are punished or hidden, innovation stops in its tracks.—
IESE Business School,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
Developer Steven Ramos said the business would be a butcher shop, a bakery with coffee, and an ice cream counter.—
John Tuohy,
IndyStar,
14 July 2025
-
The market is just full of butcher shops, with the most ghastly whole pigs and halves of steers hanging from horrible hooks.—
John Updike,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
But then Superman lost flight and Warners fumbled the lucrative Reeve franchise greatly.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
8 July 2025
-
Ferguson couldn't find the end zone once, and even fumbled the ball four times, after preventing fumbles entirely during his first two seasons in the league.—
Justin Grasso,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
Water moving at 25 mph has the pressure equivalent of wind blowing at 790 mph, faster than the speed of sound.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
-
Some of the clips have also already begun to go viral including one of Chase’s gazelle-like movement and another of Hill blowing by Smith-Njigba in coverage.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
What happened to Josh Friedman isn’t just an HR blunder.—
Chloe Rogers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 July 2025
-
Letting Tommy Kahnle, a reliable arm, walk has turned out to be a massive blunder.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
Hegseth, a former Fox TV host who has stumbled through several controversies during his six months in office, sat silently next to Trump without volunteering any information about the decision that apparently came on his watch.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
9 July 2025
-
After a dramatic event, like an underwater landslide, covered her in sediment, her body remained hidden until 16 years ago, when scientists stumbled upon the nearly pristine fossil of the animal—a dolphin-like marine predator—and unearthed it for further research.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
Some adults agreed, but others made comments about me ruining the mood.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
20 July 2025
-
Nothing ruins the vibe of a beautiful backyard faster than dull, discolored patio furniture that’s more of an eyesore than an inviting lounge spot.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
High-profile cases have shown that spreadsheet errors can cost companies millions.—
Aleksandra Bal,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
-
Unforced error after unforced error plagued the team.—
Emma Moon,
Charlotte Observer,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screwup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwup. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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