MESSING (UP) Synonyms: 243 Similar and Opposite Words

messing (up)

verb

present participle of mess (up)

as in fumbling

to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way messed up the drawing and had to start over

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as in disrupting

to undo the proper order or arrangement of a nap had messed up her hair and she looked a sight

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as in stumbling

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 licking

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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for messing (up)

Verb

After not fumbling all year and not committing a turnover throughout the month of October, Young got strip-sacked in the second quarter and Tampa Bay returned it for a touchdown.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
The Seahawks had one of the worst turnovers in the NFL this season, fumbling in their own end zone and handing the 49ers a touchdown with 13 seconds left in the first half.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of fumbling

Verb

Earlier this month, Ukrainian drones connected to Starshield lost connectivity at high speeds, disrupting air defenses during daily Russian air attacks.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
The new enforcement effort is disrupting daily life as some parents with visitor visas avoid crossing altogether.

— Angela Kocherga, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of disrupting

Verb

After contracting the plague, he was banished to a cave, where a dog brought him bread and healed his wounds by licking them.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
But the lively crew at the urinals was already licking its lips in anticipation.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of licking

Verb

In overtime, the Golden Knights quickly took advantage of a tripping penalty on Kings center Scott Laughton.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Behar, who dislocated the shoulder after catching her heel and tripping last week at The View‘s ABC studio building in New York, is expected to return to the show next week.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of tripping

Verb

Groups of young people were seen dancing with music pounding through the crowd as meters away tear gas billowed into the air.

— Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
At the moment, the good detective is strutting around the float, kicking the wheels and pounding the floorboards.

— Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of pounding

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messing over

messing (up)

messing (with)

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“Messing (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messing%20%28up%29. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of messing (up)

verb

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