messing (up)

verb

Definition of messing (up)next
present participle of mess (up)
1
as in fumbling
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way messed up the drawing and had to start over

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disrupting
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 stumbling
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 licking
to strike repeatedly threatened that he would mess him up if he cheated at the game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for messing (up)
  1. disrupting
  2. licking
  3. pounding
  4. tripping
  5. hiding
  6. shuffling
  7. lashing
  8. disturbing
Verb
  • Protests keep disrupting life in Dhaka, the capital.
    Saif Hasnat Atul Loke, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Mass deportations and reductions in legal immigration could lead to significant labor shortages, disrupting productivity and economic stability.
    Solange Charas, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of disrupting
Verb
  • Chip, sensing something is wrong, gently approaches his older sister, nudging and licking her face in an apparent attempt to comfort her.
    Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
  • While licking you is a way for a dog to bond and promotes affection, stopping it will not compromise your relationship.
    Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of licking
Verb
  • The ruins were spared direct attack, but the surrounding city of Tyre — where Hezbollah still enjoys wide support — took a pounding from Israeli warplanes.
    Lauren Frayer, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Consider marinating or pounding it thin for quicker and more tender results when needed.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024
Definition of pounding
Verb
  • Others are participating in travel trends such as dry-tripping (also known as sober curious travel) and the option to be alcohol-free during their travels.
    Ronny Maye, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
  • The bill is named after the late star, who died in 2019 after tripping on loose cables while shooting a TV series.
    Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2024
Definition of tripping
Verb
  • Damage to churches and mosques Israel accuses Hezbollah of hiding weapons and fighters in religious and cultural sites.
    Lauren Frayer, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Damage to churches and mosques Israel accuses Hezbollah of hiding weapons and fighters in religious and cultural sites.
    Lauren Frayer, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • But the $12 billion decline in his fortune has more to do with asset shuffling than stock price movement.
    Julie Goldenberg, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
  • James has been shuffling back and forth between the NBA and the G League.
    Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of shuffling
Verb
  • Their late father was killed for lashing out against the government, and Gustavo doesn’t share Paco’s willingness to follow in dad’s footsteps.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Their late father was killed for lashing out against the government, and Gustavo doesn’t share Paco’s willingness to follow in dad’s footsteps.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2024
Definition of lashing
Verb
  • The horrifying scene was captured on disturbing video obtained by The News.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 22 Dec. 2024
  • The dread-fueling 1974 horror classic follows a group of sorority girls who become victims of grisly murders over Christmas break after receiving a series of disturbing phone calls.
    Lydia Price, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Definition of disturbing
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near messing (up)

messing over

messing (up)

messing (with)

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Messing (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messing%20%28up%29. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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