screwup

1 of 2

noun

screw·​up ˈskrü-ˌəp 

1

: one who screws up

2

: botch, blunder

screw up

2 of 2

verb

screwed up; screwing up; screws up

transitive verb

1

: to tighten, fasten, or lock by or as if by a screw

2

a

: bungle, botch

b

: to cause to act or function in an erratic or confused way : confound, disturb

intransitive verb

: to botch an activity or undertaking

Synonyms

Noun

• blunder
• bobble
• boo-boo
• boob [British]
• brick
• clanger [British]
• clinker
• error
• fault
• flub
• fluff
• fumble
• gaff
• gaffe
• goof
• inaccuracy
• lapse
• miscue
• misstep
• mistake
• oversight
• slip
• slipup
• stumble
• trip

Verb

• blunder
• boob [British]
• err
• flub
• fluff
• foul up
• fumble
• goof (up)
• louse up
• mess (up)
• slip up
• stumble
• trip

Examples of screwup in a Sentence

Noun

That was a major screwup.

She's a screwup who can't hold down a job.

Verb

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

you've totally screwed up the spreadsheet

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

No room for screwups, especially while the team was fighting for equal pay and better treatment from U.S. Soccer. —Steph Yang, The Athletic, 25 July 2024

And considering the premature appearance on the website (and now these images), that might happen sooner than later as Sonos looks to get back on track after a colossal screwup. —Chris Welch, The Verge, 17 Sep. 2024

Verb

But Mike gets in his face to say that Brady's the one screwing up his own life. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024

So messy was his operation that even the NCAA’s oafs couldn’t screw up that investigation. —Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1625, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

screwup

1 of 2 noun

screw·​up ˈskrü-ˌəp 

1

: one who screws up

2

: botch entry 2, blunder

screw up

2 of 2 verb

1

: to tighten, fasten, or lock by or as if by a screw

2

a

: botch entry 1

b

: to cause to act in an odd or confused way