COCK-UP Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

cock-up

noun

Definition of cock-up

British

as in shambles

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cock-up

Noun

Of course this was a calculated power play, not a bureaucratic botch.

— U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
During last week's WWE SmackDown, a series of mistakes and botches drew harsh criticism from fans.

— Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

Definition of botch

Noun

In the city of Hurricane in far southwestern Utah, a shipping container drifting down a street gave way Friday to a mess of mud and debris to be cleaned up as people who had evacuated earlier in the week returned home.

— MEAD GRUVER, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
General manager Les Snead is also culpable for this mess of a season, trading for Myles Garrett, who has done absolutely zero for this team.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of mess

Noun

And its defense — minus the Week 1 fiasco against the Bears that’s looking more and more like an aberration — is Top 10 in several statistics, including rushing yards allowed.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
On the 597th Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including an update on the Milwaukee Brewers’ Timeless Ticket fiasco.

— Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of fiasco

Noun

Blend yours with frozen mango, muddle in fresh blackberries, or infuse the tequila with chiles.

— Hannah Lee Leidy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
Although its advocates may claim inspiration from both the Great Society tradition of the Democratic Party and Nordic-style democratic socialism, consumer socialism is really a muddle of the two.

— Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

Definition of muddle

Noun

Spain’s second high-speed rail disaster this year, in which one train struck another from behind, killing 69 people, has raised fresh concerns about the safety of the country’s rail network ahead of a national election.

— Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
The new rail disaster can't help the prospects of his Socialist party.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of disaster

Noun

Without an authoritative accounting, Eisenkot argues, the country cannot fully reckon with the catastrophe.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Retreating Iraqi forces set fire to hundreds of oil wells in Kuwait creating an environmental catastrophe felt throughout the Gulf.

— Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

There were, for example, a few state-level permitting debacles, with New Mexico rejecting SunZia’s initial transmission route in 2018.

— Sara Herschander, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026
So unsurprisingly, Councilmember Nithya Raman, her challenger in the mayoral campaign, is going after her on the people mover debacle and other transportation shortcomings.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of debacle

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.

Browse Nearby Words

cocktails

cock-up

cock-ups

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cock-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cock-up. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of cock-up

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

reticent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes