fail vs screw up

fail and screw up both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
fail	No	No	Yes	No
screw up	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, screw up is a hyponym of fail; that is, screw up is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than fail:

fail (verb)	screw up (verb)
stop operating or functioning	twist into a strained configuration
deteriorate	make more intense
prove insufficient	screw or turn higher
disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake	make a mess of, destroy or ruin
become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close
be unsuccessful
fail to get a passing grade
fail to do something; leave something undone
judge unacceptable
be unable
fall short in what is expected