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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

Make a dog's breakfast

To destroy or disrupt by means of sabotage

To strike or hit repeatedly

To smear or become smeared, especially when rubbed

To handle roughly or clumsily

To treat with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly

To take the pleasure or enjoyment out of

To frustrate or prevent (someone) from achieving an aim

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

A mistake or problem

A state of complete disorder

… more ▼

Verb

To make a mistake or error

make a Horlicks of

make a nonsense of

do something badly

make a pig's ear of

be wide of the mark

get signals crossed

make a dog's dinner of

make a botch of

stumble through

put your foot in it

get things wrong

put a spanner in the works

fall on one's face

screw the pooch

make a false move

make a faux pas

muff something up

bark up the wrong tree

blot your copybook

get the wrong end of the stick

calculate wrongly

estimate wrongly

make a mistake about

cast gloom over

cast a gloom upon

bring a note of sadness to

more ❯

“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

put out of order

cause confusion in

get into a tangle

cause turmoil in

make disorderly

bring into disorder

throw a monkey wrench in the works of

throw a spanner in the works

throw into chaos

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 difficulties

make complicated

make more difficult

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

Ruin or foil

bring to naught

reduce to nothing

render ineffective

put the kibosh on

make of no use or value

bring to an end

throw a monkey wrench in the works of

throw a spanner in the works

play havoc with

put a damper on

more ❯

Verb

Make a dog's breakfast

make a dog's dinner

make a dog's breakfast

make a pig's ear

Verb

Ruffle up

Verb

To destroy or disrupt by means of sabotage

put the kibosh on

bring to naught

cause detriment to

be a blot on the landscape

put a damper on

play havoc with

reduce to rubble

reduce to nothing

bring to nothing

wreak havoc upon

render ineffective

rain on someone's parade

throw a monkey wrench in the works of

throw a spanner in the works

treat with disrespect

commit sacrilege against

treat sacrilegiously

commit sacrilege

blaspheme against

be detrimental to

raze to the ground

put out of commission

throw a monkey wrench into

put out of action

expose to danger

put in jeopardy

leave vulnerable

pose a threat to

be prejudicial to

drive a nail into the coffin of

play merry hell with

be disadvantageous to

have a bad effect on

have a negative effect on

be deleterious to

leave defenseless

make unattractive

lay on the line

put someone's life on the line

cause the loss of

cause the sacrifice of

result in harm to

pull the rug out from under

result in damage to

lead to the end of

be careless with

subject to loss

have a negative impact on

put on the line

leave unprotected

knock the stuffing out of

exert influence on

have an effect on

have an impact on

drag through the mud

blot your copybook

give a bad name

place in danger

confine to a wheelchair

put under suspicion

more ❯

Verb

Misdo

Verb

To strike or hit repeatedly

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

take a stick to

be victorious over

wipe the floor with

get the better of

make mincemeat of

take to the cleaners

win a resounding victory over

bring someone to their knees

run rings around

turn inside out

blow out of the water

warm someone's seat

dust someone's britches

put in the hospital

strike with a stick

beat with a stick

give someone a beating

give someone a good beating

give someone a good drubbing

rain blows upon

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 for a loop

assault physically

knock block off

knock someone's lights out

beat someone's brains out

put on the rack

beat someone up

cause injury to

more ❯

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 treat with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly

be violent toward

take advantage of

do an injustice to

inflict suffering on

inflict pain on

do the dirty on

do a disservice to

kick in the teeth

give someone the works

make unfair claims on

be detrimental to

do an injury to

discriminate against

step on the toes of

give no quarter

lay a bad trip on

hit where one lives

cause suffering to

inflict anguish on

put on the rack

cause injury to

lay a finger on

play merry hell with

drive a nail into the coffin of

play havoc with

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

take the fun out of

envelop in gloom

Verb

To frustrate or prevent (someone) from achieving an aim

put the kibosh on

put the stopper on

get the better of

put the mockers on

stand in the way of

upset the applecart

put a spoke in someone's wheel

take wind out of sails

throw a spanner in the works

throw monkey wrench in

halt in its tracks

throw a monkey wrench in the works

take wind out of

cramp one's style

cook someone's goose

spike someone's guns

queer someone's pitch

give the run around

bring to a close

put the damper on

put a damper on

pour cold water on

throw cold water on

take the wind out of your sails

bring to an end

dash one's hope

throw a monkey wrench into

put on back burner

throw a monkey wrench in the works of

bring an end to

give the thumbs down to

make null and void

declare null and void

trample underfoot

ride roughshod over

be an antidote to

make ineffective

render ineffective

more ❯

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

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

take the wind out of your sails

make one's hair stand on end

cut to the quick

strike terror into

set someone back on their heels

make despondent

give someone the blues

make someone scratch their head

stop someone in their tracks

hurt somebody's feelings

make downhearted

weigh heavily on

break one's heart

catch off balance

scare the pants off

scare the bejesus out of

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

cause to be at a stand

make one's blood run cold

leave open-mouthed

do someone's head in

make someone's hair stand on end

give someone grief

cause anxiety to

dampen the spirits of

make someone fed up

cause anguish to

frighten to death

give someone the heebie-jeebies

curdle the blood

chill to the bone

put out of countenance

reduce to tears

pull the rug from under

put someone off their stride

pull the rug out from under

distress greatly

knock for a loop

make teeth chatter

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

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

fill with loathing

cause disquiet to

put into a flap

break the heart of

throw into a tizz

knock props out

cause someone to lose their composure

blind someone with something

paralyse with fear

scare the daylights out of

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

undermine one's confidence

prey on your mind

occupy thoughts

strike with awe

render speechless

cast a pall over

strike fear into

fill with terror

frighten out of your wits

scare the pants off of

cast a gloom on

dash the hopes of

knock the wind out of

make dispirited

make crestfallen

get on your wick

harsh one's mellow

shatter the illusions of

sap the confidence of

be a great weight on

weigh heavily on one's mind

upset the applecart

arouse anxiety in

send over the edge

be on one's case

make it tough for

be all Greek to

set someone thinking

rub up the wrong way

be disagreeable

tread on someone's toes

be an affront to

put someone's nose out of joint

chill someone's blood

give someone a fright

make someone's hair curl

harsh someone's mellow

make someone's heart bleed

break someone's spirit

break someone's heart

give someone the hump

make discontented

cause to lose heart

dampen someone's hopes

chill to the marrow

let wind out of sails

puncture balloon

kick in the teeth

take down a peg or two

cut down to size

cause to lose hope

freeze your blood

get the wind up

turn on the heat

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

make your blood boil

be on your back

raise your hackles

try your patience

ruffle one's feathers

drive round the twist

get your hackles up

be repugnant to

get up someone's nose

get across someone

rattle one's cage

give a bad time

cause discomfort to

send into a rage

give someone the pip

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

cause suffering

send into a spin

cause resentment to

cause annoyance to

push the buttons of

push one's buttons

drive you crazy

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

get someone's wick

dampen someone's spirit

drive you to distraction

catch one short

stroke someone's hair the wrong way

set someone's teeth on edge

weigh heavily on someone's mind

push someon's buttons

arouse hostility in

make a monkey of

make someone's stomach rise

throw into tizzy

drive you round the twist

drive you round the bend

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

drive you off your head

make you see red

send chills down the spine of

throw a curveball

have had enough

exhaust someone's patience

cause to lose your bearings

be distasteful to

be displeasing to

drive you out of your mind

make somebody's blood boil

drive out of mind

inspire panic in

strike terror in

bend someone's ear

get on someone's case

put pressure on

be in someone's hair

bring pressure to bear on

put out of action

hit like a ton of bricks

make demands on

make severe demands on

put a strain on

make your head spin

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

put to some trouble

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

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

Noun

A mistake or problem

dropping the ball

breach of etiquette

blunder in etiquette

lapse of etiquette

colossal blunder

misunderstanding

misinterpretation

underestimation

misapprehension

error of judgment

slip of the tongue

slip of the pen

misconstruction

wrong impression

poor decision-making

putting foot in mouth

dumb thing to do

typographical error

printer's error

error of judgement

self-defeating action

misdemeanour^UK

misreading of the situation

mischievousness

misbehaviour^UK

simple-mindedness

thoughtlessness

something wrong

mispronunciation

grammatical mistake

foolish mistake

more ❯

Noun

A state of complete disorder

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 ❯

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mess up
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Nearby Words

mess up the place

mess with one's head

mess with someone's head

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