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
Relevance
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
Such complacency could be a mistake, as some market watchers have cautioned.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
9 July 2025
-
Investors who do not use the tool risk making major mistakes.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
9 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
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
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
-
Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: Robot couriers may stumble today, but over a longer horizon, their spread feels inevitable.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
Sophisticated travelers can savor world-class dining, from rich Hakata ramen to the most delicious gyoza, or explore modern art, castle ruins, and shops run by local artisans.—
Mark Lakin,
Travel + Leisure,
9 July 2025
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Olivia Lloyd
July 9,
Miami Herald,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 July 2025
-
High-profile cases have shown that spreadsheet errors can cost companies millions.—
Aleksandra Bal,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screwup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwup. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share