# mess up

> English word · Verb

## Definitions
1. To make a mess of; to untidy, disorder, soil, or muss.
2. To cause a problem with; to introduce an error or mistake in; to make muddled or confused; spoil; ruin.
3. To botch, bungle; to perform poorly on.
4. To make a mistake; to do something incorrectly; to perform poorly.
5. To cause (another person) to make unwanted mistakes in a given task, usually through distraction or obnoxious behavior.
6. To damage; injure.
7. To manhandle; beat up; rough up.
8. To discombobulate, utterly confuse, or confound psychologically; to throw into a state of mental disarray.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mess-up