Synonyms

screwup

American

[skroo-uhp] / ˈskruˌʌp /

Or screw-up

noun

Slang.

a mistake or blunder.

The package was delayed through an addressing screwup.
a habitual blunderer.

Etymology

Origin of screwup

1955–60; noun use of verb phrase screw up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Still, some of those criticisms came to bear in July, when it was revealed that county officials committed a near-unthinkable administrative screwup.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2025

You weren’t able to vote in this election because of a screwup with sending absentee ballots.

From Slate • Feb. 25, 2025

"How the information was exposed was an absolutely hilarious screwup".

From Reuters • Aug. 7, 2023

You know, she's a screwup, she's not great.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2023

And now Mr. Hollow was basically asking to see my surgical screwup.

From "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023