messed 1 of 2

messed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of mess

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 messed
Adjective
By making this register the emotional climax of the season, the show leaves us with the impression that John and Carolyn’s relationship was more messed up than fulfilling or loving. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026 His skin looks all messed up and he's hunched over in pain, hearing noises. Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026 The first week or so of February will be a bit messed up because of bright moonlight. Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026 Stagner had seen a lot of messed-up things in his life, from explosives in Iraq wounding fellow Marines to the gruesome aftermath of shootings in Brunswick. ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025 Similarly, Ehrenreich — who has been building back a very interesting and strong career after taking some unfair critical brickbats along the way — is just terrific as this somewhat messed-up local cop. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
The May 23 rainout in New York that messed with their vibe. Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2026 Rocky was not to be messed with. CBS News, 18 June 2026 What is a home, if not something to be messed with? Joseph Trinidad, Longreads, 16 June 2026 That crash really messed me up. Michael Hollett, SPIN, 14 June 2026 This man is not to be messed with. Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 May 2026 This mash-up is not a dish to be messed with. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 May 2026 That idea has led to a rigid view that symphonic pieces aren’t to be messed with. Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026 But Jefferson found the experience of sitting there while lesser writers messed with his prose unbearable. Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed
Adjective
  • Interviews for the statewide candidates are done now via questions from the entire convention, a potentially messier proposition.
    Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026
  • More vehicles on the road means more potential for complex, multi-vehicle collisions and messier disputes over who caused what.
    Matthew Kayser, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • But a thing called the Civil War interfered.
    Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 June 2026
  • Bliss made a furious comeback before Michin interfered, leading to a four-woman brawl on the outside.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • By building circuits whose states naturally fluctuate with this environmental heat, thermodynamic computing turns an otherwise stochastic and chaotic feature of nature into an incredibly fast, ultra-low-energy calculator.
    Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
  • The combat that follows is intimate, chaotic, and bloody.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • While authorities snooped around, the charity’s fundraising expenses declined, dropping from $384,000 in 2016 to $111,000 in 2017.
    Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • Untrustworthy employees There have been cases where employees at security companies snooped through camera feeds.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • But then, the writer himself might get confused about which is which.
    Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
  • For example, a lot of fans were a bit confused on Friday after watching Miguel Almiron be sent off in the first half of Paraguay’s win against Turkey.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • Griffin also poked at the cohosts in the immediate aftermath of Hasselbeck and former View moderator Rosie O'Donnell's legendary on-air fight in 2007, as Griffin was a guest host the following day and brought up the incident numerous times — which annoyed Walters in the moment.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 24 June 2026
  • Late in the third, the Knights seemed to retake the lead after Pavel Dorofeyev poked home a loose puck.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 16 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
  • Winning like a Feeney Due to some sloppy defensive errors from the silver-haired infield, the Feeneys allowed more runs in the top of the seventh.
    Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • The Walpole, Massachusetts native, making his second career start at Fenway Park in front of family and friends, surrendered a two-run, go-ahead homer to ex-Yankees prospect Caleb Durbin in the fifth inning of what was a sloppy, 6-3, loss for the Bombers.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Messed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on messed

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster