1
as in to stumble
to make a mistake
everything is riding on this project, so we can't afford to louse up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to fumble
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
I loused up the wallpapering job in the bedroom—the seams show too much
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of louse up
Maybe one party simply wants out for no apparent reason Anything can louse up the deal.
—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Which is to say that America’s most prominent vaccine skeptic could have the power to upend, derail, or otherwise louse up a cornerstone of public health.
—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
20 Nov. 2024
Conversely, one of the easiest ways to louse up a team on draft day is to load up a team with players who aren’t going to produce at a level commensurate with when they were drafted.
—
Gary Davenport,
The Athletic,
5 Aug. 2024
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Which is to say that America’s most prominent vaccine skeptic could have the power to upend, derail, or otherwise louse up a cornerstone of public health.
—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
20 Nov. 2024
Conversely, one of the easiest ways to louse up a team on draft day is to load up a team with players who aren’t going to produce at a level commensurate with when they were drafted.
—
Gary Davenport,
The Athletic,
5 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for louse up
Verb
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Scientists have stumbled on a rare dinosaur fossil from Antarctica, tucked away for decades in a drawer.
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However, Portugal stumbled in its opening match, managing only a 1–1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Verb
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But in her concentration, Porsha fumbled her words, which made the Faithfuls, who were desperate for a crumb of evidence so early in the game, suspicious of her sincerity.
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With Yerry De los Santos also fumbling a bunt in the eighth, the Yanks tallied a season-high four errors on the night.
Verb
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Mysterio tripped Page onto the second rope, but Page cut off Rey Mysterio with a big boot as Rey attempted a 619.
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Neural pathways controlling core bodily functions — feeling in the limbs, movement and breathing — were collapsing one by one, like circuit breakers tripping in rapid succession.
Verb
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Finally, during penalties, Paraguay was up 3-2 and needed to make only one more kick before missing its last two, nearly blowing the match.
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The sobering reality, however, is that this is a 35-48 team that already has been blown too far off course.
Verb
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Also, there is precedent for an early slip up or two not meaning much in recent big tournaments.
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If Argentina slips up at any point in the group stage before this match, expect the score to be run up to catch up on goal differential.
Verb
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But four years ago, Sorsby screwed up in a massive way.
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The two screwed up a top-rope stunner as Excalibur struggled to explain what happened like a 2026 Jim Ross.
Verb
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In the end, though, neither an explosion nor a giant spill of fluid that could foul up waterways and the ocean occurred.
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An incorrect connection or approach can foul up a line, damage a plane or cause an accident.
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
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After all, plenty of cocktail enthusiasts already complain about mosquitoes ruining a summer evening.
Cite this Entry
“Louse up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/louse%20up. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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