screwed up; screwing up; screws up
1
: to tighten, fasten, or lock by or as if by a screw
: to botch an activity or undertaking
Examples of screwup in a Sentence
Noun
That was a major screwup.
She's a screwup who can't hold down a job.
Verb
we all screw up from time to time, so don't sweat it
you've totally screwed up the spreadsheet
Recent Examples on the Web
ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
Maeve sits down with Eddie, who feels down because everyone in the family views him as a screwup.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 6 Apr. 2025
Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 4 Apr. 2025
The problem is, every executive in that business is trying not to screw up.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwup
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Noun
Fei-hung is a fan of drunken boxing, and his father disapproves of this and other screwups, kicking his son out of the house.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
Maeve sits down with Eddie, who feels down because everyone in the family views him as a screwup.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
Who else is waiting for Matty to screw up with the voice modulator and accidentally call Mrs. B as herself?
—Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 4 Apr. 2025
The problem is, every executive in that business is trying not to screw up.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwup
Cite this Entry
“Screwup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screwup. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
screwup
1 of 2 noun
screw·up
ˈskrü-ˌəp 
1
: one who screws up
2
screw up
2 of 2 verb1
: to tighten, fasten, or lock by or as if by a screw
2
a
b
: to cause to act in an odd or confused way
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