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Synonyms

messed up

American  

adjective

Slang.

  1. beaten up; looking disarrayed.

  2. confused and unhappy.

  3. intoxicated with alcohol or narcotics.

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.

“Kaley came from a messed up home life,” Lanier said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

"We've messed up on a grand scale and now the onus is on this group of guys to turn it around and put in two solid performances."

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

The board must accept they messed up and move on.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

“I’m classier than that. I was just caught up in the moment. Emotions get high. I won’t sit here and act like I’m a perfect man. I messed up when I did that.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 14, 2025

I want to remind him that he almost messed up his epic relationship, but that’s bad form in front of our future people; I’ll save it for when we’re alone.

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.