1
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
clearly, there's been some sort of screwup about what time we were supposed to meet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in butcher
someone who bungles an effort
don't ask the office screwup to arrange the holiday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to fumble
to make a mistake
we all screw up from time to time, so don't sweat it
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to blow
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
you've totally screwed up the spreadsheet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of screwup
Bynick Rockel, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
Similar screwups would occur again and again over the years, with each side perennially overinterpreting the other’s behavior while explaining away its own.
—Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for screwup 
Noun
Then there’s Uber, whose data quality controls missed an accounting screwup that cost it $45 million in back pay for drivers.
—Bynick Rockel, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
Similar screwups would occur again and again over the years, with each side perennially overinterpreting the other’s behavior while explaining away its own.
—Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Verb
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
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
See all Example Sentences for screwup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwup
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Rage at being forced to negotiate with the butchers responsible for the October 7 massacre.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
-
Like: special cuts from the butcher, a deviation at the deli, a steamed filet from the fishmonger.Miami Herald File, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
My manuscript was finally being read by editors, who responded with almost-wins — an overtime pass, fumbled.Tara Dorabji, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
-
Gone are the days of fumbling with cords and adapters—this smart board simplifies connectivity to keep your focus on what matters most.New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Scientists have long known that DNA-copying systems make the occasional blunder—that’s how cancers often start—but only in recent years has technology been sensitive enough to catalog every genetic booboo.Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025
-
The blunder occurred during the triple toss-up round on Thursday, January 16.Aaron Rasmussen, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The Packers stumbled down the stretch, losing three of five, including two in a row.Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
-
Thomas watches as a naked virgin rides a horse, which is meant to stumble upon reaching the grave of a vampire.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025
-
Well, Neptune and his Wildcats might just be ruining the convenient narrative.CJ Moore, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communication line failure, theft, or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of the Media.USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
-
There’s very little room for error if growth does not accelerate in the coming years.Trefis Team, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near screwup
Cite this Entry
“Screwup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwup. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share