MESSED (UP) Synonyms: 244 Similar and Opposite Words

messed (up)

verb

past tense of mess (up)

as in fumbled

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

as in disrupted

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

as in stumbled

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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as in licked

to strike repeatedly threatened that he would mess him up if he cheated at the game

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed (up)

Verb

The company, which offers credit cards used to make rent and mortgage payments, had fumbled a critical transition, leading to confusion and financial stress for its customers.

— Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026
On his second drive, Tagovailoa fumbled the snap from center and the Dolphins recovered.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of fumbled

Verb

About 8% of the diesel needed to supply global demand of 28 million barrels per day is disrupted right now, said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, in an email to CNBC.

— Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
In the scenario, critical infrastructure in the central Finnish city of Kuopio, including power and water, has been disrupted by cyberattacks and there’s the threat of missile strikes from Finland’s neighbor, Russia.

— Emma Burrows, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of disrupted

Verb

In July 1990, four children stumbled upon the body, which was unable to be identified due to the severity of her injuries.

— Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Sep. 2026
That's what happened when Kerr stumbled upon the three grizzly bears, and the adult female wasn't pleased to see him.

— David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of stumbled

Verb

Tuxedo kitten Paolina bounced onto my chest and licked my fingers.

— Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Her entire face got licked clean off her head when suburban floodwaters breached the cardboard hull protecting Kath’s basement memorabilia stack a few months before I was born.

— Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of licked

Verb

It’s been a decade since the company best known for sucking up hair balls and dust bunnies blew with great force into the beauty business.

— Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
Playing the American League’s best team, the Padres had the final two games of the series in hand before the practically impermeable back end of their bullpen blew late leads.

— Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of blew

Verb

However, comments Titi and KC made on their Aftersun episode after being dumped from the villa left Aniya confused about where their dynamic stood.

— Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
But getting to these moments means being okay with being confused, and that’s because season 2 really ratchets up the complexity primarily by introducing a whole bunch of new characters, most of whom are variants of existing ones.

— Andrew Webster, The Verge, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of confused

Verb

When the horse tripped, the animal fell and rolled over on top of her, according to the outlets.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
The fourth hour began haphazardly as the Today With Jenna & Sheinelle camera operator tripped over a chair during their intro segment.

— Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of tripped

Verb

The team's official drumline, The Pack, pounded on illuminated drums during quarter breaks, while Skye, the team's sassy, blue-haired lioness mascot, jumped onto the T-shirt cannon to launch souvenir merchandise high into stadium seats.

— Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
Rodriguez pounded the strike zone, issuing his only walk in the sixth inning.

— Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of pounded

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.

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messed over

messed (up)

messed (with)

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Style

“Messed (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed%20%28up%29. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of messed (up)

verb

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