SCREWUP Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

screwup 1 of 2

noun

ˈskrü-ˌəp

Definition of screwup

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

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as in butcher

someone who bungles an effort don't ask the office screwup to arrange the holiday party

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screw up

2 of 2

verb

as in to fumble

to make a mistake we all screw up from time to time, so don't sweat it

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as in to blow

to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way you've totally screwed up the spreadsheet

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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

Noun

But the screwups don’t end there. — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025 Vince is the screwup, a mostly-former drug and gambling addict, while Jake is a successful restaurateur, running the eponymous club/restaurant Black Rabbit in Manhattan. — Andrew Bernard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025

Verb

So not screwing up Spider-Man is about putting a beating heart at the center rather than a bunch of spectacle. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 The fear of failure can do as much harm as actually screwing up. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for screwup

Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwup

Noun

Dimensions | Getty Millions of people roll money from a workplace retirement plan to an individual retirement account each year — and mistakes can prove both costly and irreversible.

— Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
To see how this works in practice, consider how Gemma might approach hiring Richard’s replacement to avoid repeating the same mistake.

— Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of mistake

Noun

It was constructed in 1897 as part of the area’s military campus, and over time was used as an army depot, a butcher shop, an animal-feed store and a mailroom.

— John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Police said a man wielding a butcher's knife advanced toward officers, prompting them to open fire, killing him.

— Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of butcher

Verb

Two exes alleged Watts blew past their boundaries to satisfy his own needs.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026
First and foremost is the peak load of 75 W and 12 V DC support, which can charge your phone in about 35 minutes if the wind is blowing at top speeds.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of blow

Verb

The Miami Dolphins stumbled through a lopsided preseason loss to the New York Giants, sustained a key injury and continued sorting through roster questions before the season opener.

— Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026
Most injuries occurred as residents were tossed from beds or stumbled in the dark; trains and airport links were briefly disrupted, a Tokyo water main burst, and hundreds lost power.

— Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of stumble

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screws up

screwup

screw up

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Style

“Screwup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwup. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of screwup

noun

verb

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