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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.

“I really don’t want to screw up the lineup,” Woods added.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 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

Trees have less dramatic ways to screw up your day: Their roots can infiltrate cracks in septic or sewage pipes, blocking the system and wreaking expensive, smelly havoc.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • Oct. 27, 2025

I had to screw up my face to make the point.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings