as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
I swear, she mucks up everything she tries
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of muck up
Stock market The stock market is off to its best start to a year since 1997 but a massive dockworkers strike underway in the US could muck up some of that progress, economists say.
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Alexandra Banner, CNN, 2 Oct. 2024
Mercury confronting Neptune is mucking up communication.
—USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024
The sphere is now rigged to heat and cool things—space gets very hot and very cold—and to handle simulant, which would muck up a standard vacuum system.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2024
The intelligence agents have each mucked up a mission in their own way or are just deemed no longer suitable to work at the Park, MI5's fictional HQ in London's Regent's Park.
—Ellie O'Mahoney, theweek, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for muck up 
Alexandra Banner, CNN, 2 Oct. 2024
Mercury confronting Neptune is mucking up communication.
—USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024
The sphere is now rigged to heat and cool things—space gets very hot and very cold—and to handle simulant, which would muck up a standard vacuum system.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2024
The intelligence agents have each mucked up a mission in their own way or are just deemed no longer suitable to work at the Park, MI5's fictional HQ in London's Regent's Park.
—Ellie O'Mahoney, theweek, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for muck up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muck up
Verb
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With its The Princess Bride meets The Tudors vibes, My Lady Jane had the potential to go down in the annals of television history as one of the greats — now, it will just be remembered as an appalling case of TV executives fumbling the bag.EW Staff, EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024
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Last week, the Lions squeaked out a 23-20 win against the Chicago Bears, thanks to some late-game heroics and a bit of luck as the Bears fumbled away their shot to tie or win.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Many of the winds that blow down mountain slopes in California are also named for their locale, according to Null.Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
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To have someone so esteemed give that sort of affirmation about my work really just blew me away.Curtis Bunn, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ There really aren’t many ways to screw up a straightforward ballad that needs only a rolling snare drum as required instrumentation, but leave it to the Simpson sisters circa 2004 to burn it all down.Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
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Collection Much like Nightmare Before Christmas, Joe Dante’s enduring horror favorite Gremlins plays like someone wanted to see how badly a bunch of little monsters could screw up the setting of another Christmas classic.Keith Phipps, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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For just one of 67 counties to use the wrong one could foul up an entire statewide count.Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2024
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See the stunning shot... AIRLINE 'CHAOS' – A flight was canceled after someone fouled up the aircraft amid delays.Fox News Staff, Fox News, 19 Oct. 2023
Verb
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This increases the risk of electrical shocks, fire, and short circuits, which can ruin your holidays.Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
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Over time, this can take away a company's competitive edge or even ruin its reputation with future talent.Subha Barry, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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With major discounts, this is the time to snag workout gear from Under Armour, Chelsea boots from Sam Edelman, and trendy sunglasses inspired by beloved celebs.Shalwah Evans, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
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Kenneth Cole Women’s Ankle Bootie Cozy ankle booties are basically a requirement this time of year, and now’s your chance to snag this adorable pair of Kenneth Cole boots for just under $25 thanks to T+L’s exclusive coupon code.Neha Tandon, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near muck up
Cite this Entry
“Muck up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muck%20up. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
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