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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.

No one can focus on how the Giants and Jets will screw up their picks in the NFL draft.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • Oct. 27, 2025

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh insists Rangers did not "screw up" the process to appoint head coach Danny Rohl but admits it looked "clunky" from the outside.

From BBC • Oct. 22, 2025

Mary already has the foundational skills for library work when she barks at Derrick not to screw up the “order” of her designer denim on a rack, she just doesn’t know it yet.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2025

In my mind, I heard Sr. Rivera ask him about Maribel, and I saw Garrett screw up his face because he didn’t understand what Sr. Rivera was saying.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez