Synonyms

Translations

Find Words

Word Forms

☀

	Appearance
✓	Use device theme
✓	Dark theme
✓	Light theme

What is another word for mess up?

Need synonyms for mess up? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Contexts ▼

To make a mistake or error

To disarrange or cause to be disordered

To make dirty or unclean

To destroy or disrupt by means of sabotage

To target and strike someone

(rare, nonstandard) To commit a mistake or error

(figuratively) To botch or mangle

To pronounce (a word) incorrectly

To smear or become smeared, especially when rubbed

To handle roughly or clumsily

To execute or carry out something incorrectly or inadequately

To treat with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly

To take the pleasure or enjoyment out of

To touch or handle, especially with the thumb or fingers

To fill with distress or alarm

Something which becomes muddled or botched in some way

An act or judgment that is misguided or wrong

A messy, complex, troublesome or confused situation

… more ▼

Verb

To make a mistake or error

“Imagine if you completely mess up her measurements and overestimate her waist or hips?”

Verb

To disarrange or cause to be disordered

throw into disorder

turn upside down

throw into disarray

throw into confusion

make a shambles of

turn topsy-turvy

play havoc with

get out of order

put out of place

get into a tangle

put out of order

cause turmoil in

cause confusion in

throw a monkey wrench in the works of

throw a spanner in the works

throw into chaos

bring into disorder

make disorderly

throw into a state of disorganization

bring into disarray

run one's fingers through

put in disarray

rattle one's cage

upset the applecart

muddy the waters

change the order

turn inside-out

make more difficult

make difficulties

make complicated

render unintelligible

knock off balance

throw into uproar

more ❯

“This will mess up the order of your fields and records, generating so much extra work that you might as well create a new database from scratch.”

Verb

To make dirty or unclean

more ❯

“I reckon she believed that I was only making up an excuse to get into the house and mess up her clean floors.”

Verb

To destroy or disrupt by means of sabotage

put the kibosh on

bring to naught

bring to an end

throw a spanner in the works

play havoc with

throw a monkey wrench in the works of

cause detriment to

put a damper on

render ineffective

put a spoke in someone's wheel

reduce to nothing

upset the applecart

put the mockers on

be a blot on the landscape

halt in its tracks

throw monkey wrench in

throw a monkey wrench in the works

rain on someone's parade

reduce to rubble

bring to nothing

wreak havoc upon

make of no use or value

treat with disrespect

commit sacrilege against

treat sacrilegiously

commit sacrilege

blaspheme against

put the stopper on

get the better of

stand in the way of

take wind out of sails

cast gloom over

cast a gloom upon

bring a note of sadness to

be detrimental to

raze to the ground

put out of commission

throw a monkey wrench into

put out of action

play merry hell with

be prejudicial to

be disadvantageous to

make unattractive

be deleterious to

drive a nail into the coffin of

have a bad effect on

have a negative effect on

bring about the downfall of

moonlight requisition

distort the shape of

bend out of shape

cause the loss of

cause the sacrifice of

result in damage to

lead to the end of

result in harm to

deliver a blow to

exert influence on

have an effect on

have an impact on

wipe off the map

make ineffective

render powerless

render incapable

more ❯

Verb

To target and strike someone

give someone a hiding

beat the living daylights out of

give someone a good hiding

knock into the middle of next week

let someone have it

give someone a drubbing

win a resounding victory over

take a stick to

be victorious over

wipe the floor with

get the better of

make mincemeat of

take to the cleaners

bring someone to their knees

run rings around

turn inside out

blow out of the water

warm someone's seat

dust someone's britches

give someone a beating

give someone a good drubbing

give someone a good beating

rain blows upon

strike with a stick

beat with a stick

put in the hospital

launch oneself at

give someone the works

take to cleaners

launch an attack on

inflict suffering on

win a victory over

outmanoeuvre^UK

pip at the post

run roughshod over

run rings round

make an assault on

inflict pain on

physically attack

jump down one's throat

knock someone's lights out

beat someone's brains out

knock for a loop

assault physically

knock block off

put on the rack

beat someone up

cause injury to

more ❯

Verb

To make uneven

make ripples in

form ripples on

form something into ridges

squeeze together

Verb

(rare, nonstandard) To commit a mistake or error

get things wrong

be wide of the mark

get signals crossed

put your foot in it

muff something up

calculate wrongly

make a mistake about

estimate wrongly

make a false move

fall on one's face

screw the pooch

make a faux pas

get the wrong end of the stick

blot your copybook

take something amiss

get the wrong idea

get the wrong idea about

put a wrong interpretation on

be at cross purposes

get the wrong impression

receive a false impression

judge incorrectly

be under a delusion

be barking up the wrong tree

get hold of the wrong end of the stick

take something the wrong way

get wrong impression

get signals mixed

get your lines crossed about

get the wrong impression about

have wrong impression

be off the mark

mischaracterize

fail to appreciate

misinterpret as

incorrectly diagnose

wrongly diagnose

make a wrong interpretation of

take out of context

get a false impression of

get your lines crossed

be at cross-purposes with

get your wires crossed

come to hasty conclusion

bark up wrong tree

jump to the wrong conclusion about

get the wrong end of the stick about

fail to understand

be misguided about

more ❯

Verb

(figuratively) To botch or mangle

make a Horlicks of

make a nonsense of

do something badly

make a pig's ear of

make a dog's dinner of

make a botch of

use fraudulently

put to wrong use

make bad use of

more ❯

Verb

To pronounce (a word) incorrectly

stumble through

Verb

To smear or become smeared, especially when rubbed

make indistinct

become less sharp

become indistinct

make less distinct

muddy the waters

cast a shadow over

become overcast

be overshadowed

cast a shadow on

block off the light to

envelop in shadow

render uncertain

make more difficult

muddy the waters of

cloud the issue

throw a veil over

throw up smoke screen

keep out of sight

put out of sight

become covered in condensation

more ❯

Verb

To handle roughly or clumsily

handle carelessly

handle clumsily

Verb

To execute or carry out something incorrectly or inadequately

Verb

To treat with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly

be violent toward

take advantage of

do an injustice to

do the dirty on

do a disservice to

kick in the teeth

make unfair claims on

be detrimental to

do an injury to

step on the toes of

give no quarter

lay a bad trip on

hit where one lives

inflict suffering on

inflict pain on

cause injury to

lay a finger on

more ❯

Verb

To take the pleasure or enjoyment out of

put a damper on

cast a shadow over

cast a pall over

take the shine off

take the edge off

take the enjoyment out of

take the pleasure out of

be a blot on the landscape

envelop in gloom

take the fun out of

Verb

To touch or handle, especially with the thumb or fingers

play about with

lay a finger on

play around with

put one's hands on

put one's hand on

come into contact

brush up against

come into contact with

sexually assault

be contaminated by

make contact with

be in collision with

more ❯

Verb

To fill with distress or alarm

throw off balance

put the wind up

fill with consternation

throw into a tizzy

throw cold water on

pour cold water on

put someone off their stroke

knock the stuffing out of

put a damper on

make one's hair stand on end

cut to the quick

strike terror into

give someone the blues

set someone back on their heels

make despondent

make someone scratch their head

stop someone in their tracks

take the wind out of your sails

hurt somebody's feelings

make downhearted

weigh heavily on

break one's heart

catch off balance

scare the bejesus out of

scare the pants off

give someone goose pimples

scare someone out of their wits

scare the living daylights out of

put the fear of God into

take by surprise

give a hard time

throw into a blue funk

make one's blood run cold

cause to be at a stand

leave open-mouthed

do someone's head in

give someone grief

cause anxiety to

dampen the spirits of

make someone fed up

chill to the bone

curdle the blood

cause anguish to

give someone the heebie-jeebies

make someone's hair stand on end

put out of countenance

reduce to tears

make teeth chatter

pull the rug from under

put someone off their stride

pull the rug out from under

distress greatly

knock for a loop

cause suffering to

take your breath away

make someone jump out of their skin

frighten someone out of their wits

send into a cold sweat

make someone's blood run cold

make someone shake in their shoes

frighten the life out of

scare the life out of

frighten to death

scare the hell out of

frighten the living daylights out of

throw into a panic

put into a funk

cast a gloom upon

give offence to

make one's flesh creep

give one the creeps

bring tears to your eyes

mess with someone's head

make one's heart bleed

boggle the mind

put your back up

make uncomfortable

offend morals of

take the wind out

send over the edge

fill with loathing

cause disquiet to

break the heart of

put into a flap

knock the wind out of

throw into a tizz

undermine one's confidence

harsh one's mellow

scare the daylights out of

knock props out

cause someone to lose their composure

blind someone with something

completely surprise

raise someone's eyebrows

shake out of your complacency

hit like ton of bricks

mess with one's head

put off one's stroke

prey on your mind

occupy thoughts

sap the confidence of

chill someone's blood

give someone a fright

make someone's hair curl

strike with awe

render speechless

cast a pall over

dash the hopes of

get on your wick

shatter the illusions of

be a great weight on

weigh heavily on one's mind

cause to lose heart

upset the applecart

dampen someone's hopes

arouse anxiety in

be on one's case

make it tough for

cause to lose hope

be all Greek to

set someone thinking

harsh someone's mellow

make someone's heart bleed

break someone's spirit

break someone's heart

rub up the wrong way

be disagreeable

tread on someone's toes

be an affront to

put someone's nose out of joint

strike fear into

fill with terror

paralyse with fear

frighten out of your wits

scare the pants off of

give someone the hump

make discontented

cast a gloom on

cast a shadow over

chill to the marrow

turn on the heat

freeze your blood

get the wind up

throw into a fright

scare someone half to death

get on your nerves

drive up the wall

get in your hair

get under your skin

rub the wrong way

make someone see red

get on one's nerves

get your back up

make somebody's hackles rise

drive to distraction

drive round the bend

get your dander up

be on your back

make your blood boil

try your patience

ruffle one's feathers

raise your hackles

drive round the twist

be repugnant to

get up someone's nose

get your hackles up

get across someone

give a bad time

rattle one's cage

cause discomfort to

give someone the pip

send into a rage

rattle someone's cage

make your gorge rise

cause trouble to

make self-conscious

breathe down someone's neck

be disagreeable to

cause concern to

put on the spot

be a pain in the neck

be a thorn in someone's side

rub you up the wrong way

be offensive to

cause offence to

stick in one's craw

set one's teeth on edge

get a rise out of

hit where one lives

be on the back of

be a thorn in someone's flesh

drive you up the wall

go to your head

try the patience of

send into a spin

cause suffering

push the buttons of

lie heavy on someone's mind

weigh heavy on someone's mind

get on the wrong side of

make an enemy of somebody

be a nuisance to

catch one short

get someone's wick

make a monkey of

cause resentment to

cause annoyance to

stroke someone's hair the wrong way

set someone's teeth on edge

weigh heavily on someone's mind

push someon's buttons

push one's buttons

arouse hostility in

make someone's stomach rise

throw into tizzy

throw a curveball

work into lather

take a rise out of

make someone laugh on the other side of their face

make someone laugh out of the other side of their mouth

send chills down the spine of

have had enough

exhaust someone's patience

be distasteful to

be displeasing to

inspire panic in

strike terror in

cause to lose your bearings

bend someone's ear

make demands on

make severe demands on

put a strain on

get on someone's case

put pressure on

be in someone's hair

bring pressure to bear on

make your head spin

drive you out of your mind

drive you to distraction

make somebody's blood boil

drive you round the twist

make you see red

drive you round the bend

drive you crazy

hurt the feelings of

take control of

make someone's skin crawl

make someone feel sick

give you the creeps

be repulsive to

make flesh crawl

dampen someone's spirit

make someone want to throw up

make someone feel nauseous

be on pins and needles

have ants in one's pants

be like a cat on hot bricks

cause to feel emotional strain

cause to feel mental strain

put in traction

push to the limit

hit like a ton of bricks

cause illness to

be injurious to

go against the grain

have an adverse effect on

more ❯

Noun

Something which becomes muddled or botched in some way

comedy of errors

poor performance

Charlie Foxtrot

pig's breakfast

dumb thing to do

dog's breakfast

lack of success

coming to nothing

falling through

cluster foxtrot

flash in the pan

more ❯

Noun

An act or judgment that is misguided or wrong

misunderstanding

misinterpretation

misapprehension

underestimation

error of judgment

dropping the ball

breach of etiquette

lapse of etiquette

colossal blunder

blunder in etiquette

slip of the tongue

slip of the pen

misconstruction

wrong impression

typographical error

poor decision-making

putting foot in mouth

dumb thing to do

misdemeanour^UK

printer's error

error of judgement

misreading of the situation

misbehaviour^UK

mischievousness

incomprehension

foolish mistake

something wrong

grammatical mistake

false impression

self-defeating action

more ❯

Noun

A messy, complex, troublesome or confused situation

disorganisation^UK

disorganization^US

dog's breakfast

topsy-turviness

troublesome situation

three-ring circus

all hell broken loose

utter confusion

pig's breakfast

discombobulation

an omnishambles

topsy-turvyness

scene of confusion

unconnectedness

miscoordination

state of confusion

state of untidiness

place of disorder

mess and a half

chaotic situation

more ❯

	Find more words!








mess up
Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Advanced Search Advanced Search
Use * for blank spaces Advanced Search
Advanced Word Finder

Related Words and Phrases

See Also

What is the opposite of mess up?
Sentences with the word mess up
Words that rhyme with mess up
What is the past tense of mess up?
Translations for mess up
Use our Synonym Finder

Nearby Words

mess up the place

mess with one's head

mess with someone's head

Find Synonyms

Word Tools			Finders & Helpers		Apps		More		Synonyms
Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Nouns Verbs	Adjectives Adverbs Plural Singular Past Tense Present Tense		Word Unscrambler Words With Friends Scrabble Crossword / Codeword		iOS / Apple Android		Home About Us Terms of Use Privacy Statement Don't Sell Personal Data		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Antonyms A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Copyright WordHippo © 2024