1
as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
messed up the drawing and had to start over
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2
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
a nap had messed up her hair and she looked a sight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to stumble
to make a mistake
if anyone messes up even once while we're recording, we have to start all over again
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4
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
threatened that he would mess him up if he cheated at the game
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess (up)
Verb
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Carolina players also showed some frustration just before Sutton fumbled the ball at the goal line with 2 minutes, 13 seconds remaining.Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2024
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Corey Ballentine was also credited with fumbling a punt, but that mishap happened when return man Keisean Nixon pulled away at the last minute.Rob Reischel, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Verb
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In Kansas, Emily faces a world disrupted by drought, dust storms and a personal tragedy that leaves her beloved niece on their doorstep.Rachel Raposas, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024
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Scheuer allegedly hacked into Disney’s menu creation servers multiple times to manipulate and disrupt the menus, such as changing prices and adding profane language.John Towfighi, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The Denver Nuggets have stumbled to a bumpy start this season, even while being generally healthy.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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The search party has stumbled upon two marble statues—the amplituhedron and now surfaceology.Charlie Wood, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Pitchers have forever been licking their fingers and clutching rosin bags to help with grip; these days, camera technology and data analysis have put a premium on players who can also impart enough spin to make the ball run, ride, cut, carry, sink, tunnel, and bore along a split-second flight path.Zach Schonbrun, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2024
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The Cats have played slightly better defense, and McMillan must be licking his chops at the matchups.Matthew Self, The Arizona Republic, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
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It is defined by his combative personality, his lack of inhibitions, his willingness to ignore democratic norms to go places others won’t and blow past previous political boundaries in ways many find alarming − such as threatening to use the military against Americans who oppose him.David Jackson, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
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For nonprofits reliant on city funding, the winds of political change can blow your funding off the map.Tylor Taylor, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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One survey of 2,561 DMT users found that more than half who identified as atheists before their DMT trips no longer identified as atheist afterward.Oshan Jarow, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
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Even trips home from mundane places that don’t demand performance or the luxury will be enhanced by M power.Scotty Reiss, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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While the technical side of blockchain may still confuse most people, the concept of digital currency is mainstream.Lisa Loud, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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But also tossed into the mix is electronic warfare, and its ability to confuse, throw off and shut down navigation systems on weapons flying across the battlefield each day.David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Thankfully their Old & Rare advent calendar comes with a wooden case (to hide the purple).Mark Littler, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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And, on September 28, CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge uncovered nearly 1,950 pounds of a drug believed to be methamphetamine hidden in a tractor-trailer.David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Mess (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20%28up%29. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
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