as in mistake
an instance of confusion
there was a foul-up with our mail order, and not one item arrived as ordered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
tried not to foul up the football play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to trip
to make a mistake
unfortunately, I fouled up and in my e-mail gave everyone the wrong date for the meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of foul-up
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
Many have faulted Cuba’s Stalinist bureaucratic centralization, but few critiques are as replete with concrete examples of foolishness and foul-ups.
—Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2012
Luke Winkie, The Atlantic, 22 July 2021
But a foul up with super formula license points stole that dream away.
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 3 May 2021
See all Example Sentences for foul-up 
Noun
That foul-up then gets included in the series of questions and answers, causing the final answer to go askew.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
Many have faulted Cuba’s Stalinist bureaucratic centralization, but few critiques are as replete with concrete examples of foolishness and foul-ups.
—Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2012
Verb
Those intruders chop down the jungles and foul up the wetlands, as the spirits mount an offensive to drive them off the shorelines.
—Luke Winkie, The Atlantic, 22 July 2021
But a foul up with super formula license points stole that dream away.
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 3 May 2021
See all Example Sentences for foul-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul-up
Noun
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Then there were lesson plans, radon measurements, lead tests, plumbing and fire safety checks, and blueprints, each done according to very specific requirements where any mistakes would set them back months more.ProPublica, ProPublica, 10 Jan. 2025
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Structured processes like those in the military, Pixar, and Google demonstrate how providing psychological safety and encouraging honest feedback can lead to learning from mistakes and continuous improvement.Thomas Bostick, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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By contrast, their opponents have fumbled 21 times, with the Chiefs pouncing on eight of those.Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 3 Jan. 2025
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Junior running back Ashton Jeanty fumbled the ball twice — one of those was recovered by the Broncos — en route to falling just short of breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record.Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The instructions emphasized folks not tripping in their fabulous boots while boarding and on being cool.Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025
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And two, space heaters can fall and give you a shock or burn—especially if someone trips over the cord.Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Wu's video received hundreds of likes as well as a handful of comments from other TikTok users, some of which were couldn't bring themselves to believe her mix-up.George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
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Norton made the comments in an interview to promote Playing Nice, the new ITV series that follows two couples who discover that their toddlers were switched at birth in a hospital mix-up.Jake Kanter, Deadline, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Credit them with winning 10 games although losing three of their last four and blowing a chance to win the ACC championship and get into the playoff put a huge damper on the season.Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025
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Chalamet stars in the Bob Dylan biopic and does his own singing, guitar playing, and harmonica blowing and sucking.Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Apparently, Ron had unknowingly stumbled into a deer chase by one or more wolves.Al Wolter, Outdoor Life, 10 Jan. 2025
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The under sticks out here considering Jim Harbaugh’s typical grind it out mentality and Houston’s stumbling offense.Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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There is probably a version of this story that centers on the grief and confusion Amy might feel about losing nearly a decade of her life.Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025
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In the hours following the attack, the was some initial confusion about whether law enforcement was investigating it as a terrorist incident, as the New Orleans mayor and an FBI special agent gave contradicting answers.Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When politicians screw up on a public stage, those blunders can be, at best, meme-ified and, at worst, career-ending.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
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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
Thesaurus Entries Near foul-up
Cite this Entry
“Foul-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul-up. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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