top·sy-tur·vy
ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-vē 
1
: in utter confusion or disorder
2
: with the top or head downward : upside down
: turned topsy-turvy : totally disordered
Examples of topsy-turvy in a Sentence
Adjective
the office is still topsy-turvy even though we moved in months ago
Recent Examples on the Web
Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 Dec. 2025
My base for the weekend is a gorgeous, topsy-turvy Georgian townhouse built in 1835 and perched on the secluded, leafy Hawley Square.
—Lucy Bruton, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Dec. 2025
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
But then came a critical turning point in a topsy-turvy game.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2023
Pinsker’s characters always make the best of tricky situations, which only makes their struggles in her topsy-turvy worlds more heartbreaking.
—Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for topsy-turvy
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Adverb
The downturn in prices at the outset of this week followed an adjustment by exchange operator CME Group, which increased the amount futures traders must pony up in order to participate in the topsy-turvy markets for precious metals.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 Dec. 2025
My base for the weekend is a gorgeous, topsy-turvy Georgian townhouse built in 1835 and perched on the secluded, leafy Hawley Square.
—Lucy Bruton, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Given the topsy-turvy nature of the NHL standings this year outside of the top three teams in the Central Division, this might not matter a week or two from now, but there were seven other teams in the league with 52-plus points Wednesday morning.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
But then came a critical turning point in a topsy-turvy game.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
Within that film’s topsy-turvy multiverse, Quan was by turns a laundromat owner on the verge of divorcing his wife, a dashing romantic lead and an action hero.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2023
Pinsker’s characters always make the best of tricky situations, which only makes their struggles in her topsy-turvy worlds more heartbreaking.
—Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for topsy-turvy
Cite this Entry
“Topsy-turvy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topsy-turvy. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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