messy

adjective

ˈme-sē 

messier; messiest

1

a

: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy

a messy room

b

: likely to create a mess

a messy task/hobby

messy paint

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 of messy

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

But after a messy primary fight, and facing personal controversies and national headwinds, Collins was unable to make significant inroads in the Peach State. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Democrats, for their part, were spending the last 24 hours before Election Day making their case in areas where Republicans have long dominated, while trying to contain the fallout from a messy intraparty split in Michigan. — Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

Surveys show there is a messy majority in the middle who share views that cross partisan lines. — Frank Langfitt, NPR, 2 Nov. 2026

The Giants already have moved to -150 favorites to win the division on DraftKings ahead of the self-destructing Dallas Cowboys (+235), the messy Commanders (+560) and the reeling Eagles (+3300). — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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