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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
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
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
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
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
See All Example Sentences for screwup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwup
Noun
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Tip #4: Double-check your figures Making a simple math mistake or switching the last two digits of your Social Security Number can cause big problems for the IRS.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
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This loss of institutional support could leave borrowers with nowhere to turn when servicers make mistakes or when questions arise about complex repayment programs.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Ramirez was the one and only suspect in the March 22, 2013 afternoon attack on 29-year-old Sandra Cruzes with a butcher knife in front of Cruzes’ apartment near North First and Hedding streets, not far from the county government, jail, and San Jose Police Department complexes.—
Robert Salonga,
The Mercury News,
12 Mar. 2025
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Alternatively, drive over the bridge for a casual lunch at Marrow, a zero-waste whole-animal butcher shop and bistro that neighbors Sister Pie.—
Sarah Bence,
AFAR Media,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Stash everything in your carry-on instead of fumbling at the checkpoint.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
WIRED,
18 Mar. 2025
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In hindsight the idea seems clear, but in the moment, there was a lot of fumbling around.—
Jayson Stewart,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Limit hot tool use: Take a break from hot curling irons, straighteners, and blow dryers.—
Carley Millhone,
Health,
12 Mar. 2025
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Keep windows and doors closed to avoid pollen being blown into your home.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The blunder occurred while Trump, 78, was speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews military facility in Maryland after giving a speech at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 14.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
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The longer-term question is how much more patience and grace Trump’s base will grant Bondi, who already bears scars as the central figure in arguably the administration’s earliest blunder.—
David Catanese,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Everything will then be sold – unless he’s stumbled across a famous ball.—
Don Riddell,
CNN,
10 Mar. 2025
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The main character, a married artist in her mid-forties, sets out from her Los Angeles home, stumbles into a psychosexual dynamic with a young rental-car attendee, and decides to remodel a motel room into a love nest.—
Jennifer Wilson,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
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Alli Jo adds that the kids left school to appear on the date with Grant and the ladies, so Zoe ruined their day, too.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Naturally, the usual delays, misunderstandings and errors in communication are all common when Mercury retrogrades, but when in a sign like Aries, these moments are more likely to be louder, bolder and triggering.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
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This week, fans began to read into what was either a slip-up or an error on the Starfield Creations website that showed at least one mod, now deleted, as having a PS logo as well as Xbox and PC.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screwup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwup. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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