messy

adjective

ˈme-sē 

messier; messiest

1

: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy

a messy room

2

: lacking neatness or precision : careless, slovenly

messy thinking

3

: extremely unpleasant or trying

messy lawsuits

a messy divorce

messily

ˈme-sə-lē 

adverb

messiness

ˈme-sē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• chaotic
• sloppy
• cluttered
• confused
• jumbled
• littered
• filthy

Examples of messy in a Sentence

Painting a room can be messy work.

Some kinds of glue are messier than others.

a delicious but messy sandwich

Recent Examples on the Web

Notably, over the next three days — through a hot but noisy producer price index reading and a messy University of Michigan consumer-sentiment survey — the benchmark treated Tuesday’s closing level just under 6,450 as a floor, testing it repeatedly and finishing the week right on it. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2025

When you’re finished, the self-cleaning cycle rinses the brush roll and interior for easy maintenance, saving you from messy cleanup. —Toni Sutton, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Buyers scrutinize every dollar, and messy books can derail a deal. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

The endeavor plays out the way most weddings do, as a messy process with unexpected challenges that test the bounds of teamwork. —Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for messy

• bessy
• cressy
• dressy
• jesse

Kids Definition

messy

adjective

ˈmes-ē 

messier; messiest

1

: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy

2

: extremely unpleasant or trying

messy lawsuits

messily

ˈmes-ə-lē 

adverb

messiness

ˈmes-ē-nəs 

noun