Bug
Bug verb - To disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts.
Screw up
Screw up verb - To make a mistake.
Both terms in one sentence
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Space Whale Aesop: Don't screw up the environment or else a giant bug monster with laser vision will rise from the ocean to blow up everything and fight a fire-breathing radioactive dinosaur.
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Game-Breaking Bug: The game would screw up a character's stats if they reached level 99.
Source: Video Game / Phantasy Star IV - In A Bug's Life, when Princess Atta talks to Flik about how she feels like everyone in the colony has their eyes on her, Flik finishes her sentence "Like they're waiting for you to screw up."
Cite this Source
Screw up and Bug. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 22, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/bug/screw_up
Bug & Screw up. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/bug/screw_up>.
Screw up or Bug. 2016. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/bug/screw_up.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "bug" and "screw up" have occurred on timeline