VocabDictionary

screwed

/skruหd/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.adjective

In a difficult, unfortunate, or inescapable predicament; ruined or doomed.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œIf we miss the last train home, we are completely screwed.โ€
  • โ€œHe realized he was screwed the moment the auditor asked to see the missing receipts.โ€
2.adjective

Fastened, tightened, or secured with a screw or screws.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œMake sure the wooden panel is securely screwed to the frame.โ€
  • โ€œThe loose legs of the table need to be screwed back tightly.โ€
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โ€œscrewedโ€.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from the past participle of the verb 'screw', which dates back to Middle English (from Old French 'escroue' or Latin 'scrofa', meaning sow or female pig, later applied to spiral mechanisms). The slang sense of being in trouble or cheated emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries, likely influenced by notions of being tightly fastened, trapped, or metaphorically twisted by circumstances.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of a screw that is jammed or over-tightenedโ€”once it's in that state, it's very hard to fix, just like being 'screwed' in a difficult situation.

Frequently Asked Questions About โ€œscrewedโ€

1. What is the meaning of โ€œscrewedโ€ in English?

In English, screwed (adjective) is defined as: โ€œIn a difficult, unfortunate, or inescapable predicament; ruined or doomed.โ€.

2. How do you use โ€œscrewedโ€ in a sentence?

โ€œIf we miss the last train home, we are completely screwed.โ€

3. What are English synonyms of โ€œscrewedโ€?

Common synonyms include:doomed,trapped,ruined,stuck

4. What is the etymology and word origin of โ€œscrewedโ€?

Derived from the past participle of the verb 'screw', which dates back to Middle English (from Old French 'escroue' or Latin 'scrofa', meaning sow or female pig, later applied to spiral mechanisms). The slang sense of being in trouble or cheated emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries, likely influenced by notions of being tightly fastened, trapped, or metaphorically twisted by circumstances.