as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
having a messy room is virtually de rigueur for a college student
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of messy
However, the lunation is uprooting you from your comfort zone and urging you to realize that life is messy and unpredictable.
—
Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 10 June 2026
The book’s origin story is messy.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 10 June 2026
To a certain extent, every person is kittenfishing on social media, a place where people, by and large, present the best versions of themselves and leave out the messy parts.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Simply finish off the look by throwing your hair into a messy low bun and opting for an elegant nude lip like Lopez.
—Ruby McAuliffe, InStyle, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for messy
Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 10 June 2026
The book’s origin story is messy.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 10 June 2026
To a certain extent, every person is kittenfishing on social media, a place where people, by and large, present the best versions of themselves and leave out the messy parts.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Simply finish off the look by throwing your hair into a messy low bun and opting for an elegant nude lip like Lopez.
—Ruby McAuliffe, InStyle, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for messy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messy
Adjective
-
The truth in this case — as is often true — is specific, chaotic, at times just dumb.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
-
The world is chaotic and noisy, and her approach demands patience, of which supply is limited.—
Kamal Ahmed,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
San Antonio made nine of its first 11 shots, with the Knicks and their fans frustrated by the referees and the home team’s sloppy play, and led 33-22 after one.—
Brian Mahoney,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Later in 2025 Blanche oversaw the release of documents as mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which drew criticism from Epstein survivors as being slow, sloppy, and incomplete.—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
While a pegboard may conjure visions of your dad's tool garage or a cluttered retail display, Patton offers a few tips for making your kitchen pegboard feel stylish in the space.—
Better Homes & Gardens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 June 2026
-
Ideal for managing cluttered bathrooms, kitchens, and other spaces throughout the home, these storage solutions come in at up to 88 percent off during the sale.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
This can leave them confused when community members respond to their friendliness with hostility.—
Emilia Otte,
Hartford Courant,
13 June 2026
-
People who use psilocybin recreationally may become confused and jump off a building, David Yaden, a researcher at the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University, told me.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.—
Scarlett Harris,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
His fluid camera, observational without being intrusive, expertly delineates the safe space of Layla’s courtyard, shifting registers as things get darker until near the end, when jumbled night reinforces the tense uncertainty.—
Jay Weissberg,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
Chaotic terrain is characterized by fractured, jumbled blocks of rock thought to have formed when underground ice melted and caused the surface above to collapse.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
But, the freedom loving sane people of this great country came to Karoline's defense to show support, destroy the filthy LIBS and celebrate the greatest press secretary this country has ever employed.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
-
Fans fought in the streets, heaved bottles, smashed windows and shouted filthy insults in the melee, which left nearly 50 people injured.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messy. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
