clutter

verb clut·ter \ ˈklə-tər \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of clutter

intransitive verb

chiefly dialectal : to run in disorder

transitive verb

: to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness

a room cluttered with toys

—often used with up

Too many signs were cluttering up the street corner.

See clutter defined for English-language learners

See clutter defined for kids

Examples of clutter in a Sentence

The garage was cluttered with tools.
Try to avoid cluttering your desk with books and papers.

Recent Examples of clutter from the Web

The mind of a sabermetrician is cluttered enough without factoring in wind-chill temperatures.

— david haugh, chicagotribune.com, "Mother Nature must really hate baseball, America's national frost time," 16 Apr. 2018
The downsides are mostly Samsung’s heavily customized Android software, which feels like it's cluttered with bloatware from the moment you power it on. 4.

— jeffrey van camp, WIRED, "The 4 Best Smartphones Money Can Buy in 2018," 9 Apr. 2018
Image: Appfigures To add to the graveyard of dead mobile software, Apple also removed virus-scanning apps, apps that were clones of other apps, and other low quality apps that were cluttering up the App Store.

— shannon liao, The Verge, "Apple’s total number of apps in the App Store declined for the first time last year," 5 Apr. 2018
There's such a need for transparency in an industry that is cluttered with products and promises.

— rachel strugatz | wwd, latimes.com, "Fitness, wellness and beauty brands are coming together in new ways and moving beyond basic workouts," 30 Mar. 2018
The work space, with its four ovens, was cluttered with racks holding cakes and cookies, an industrial-size mixer and a wooden workbench, piled high with 100-pound bags of sugar and flour.

— shivani vora, New York Times, "In Yorkville, the Last Days of a German Bakery," 28 Mar. 2018
Sometimes Hand’s yard would grow cluttered with his acquisitions, according to Nava.

— andy rosen, BostonGlobe.com, "Tracy Gilpin’s alleged killer won’t challenge extradition," 12 Mar. 2018
The signing of Saunders also further clutters a minor league outfield mix that has created a logjam for prospects such as Austin Hays and switch hitter Cedric Mullins, both of whom are beginning the season in Double-A Bowie.

— eduardo a. encina, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles add outfielder Michael Saunders on minor league deal," 2 Apr. 2018
In Seattle, the city government is testing designated dockless parking spots to try and avoid sidewalks cluttered with bikes.

— patrick sisson, Curbed, "Will dockless bikes and scooters take over city sidewalks?," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clutter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of clutter

Middle English clotteren to clot, from clot

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1556

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

clutter

noun

Definition of clutter

1 a : a crowded or confused mass or collection

a clutter of motels and restaurants

b : things that clutter a place

tried to minimize the unnecessary clutter in her house

2 : interfering radar echoes caused by reflection from objects (as on the ground) other than the target

3 chiefly dialectal : disturbance, hubbub

See clutter defined for English-language learners

Examples of clutter in a Sentence

There's a lot of unnecessary clutter in the house.
a scrapbook that was a clutter of snapshots, diary entries, letters, and newspaper clippings

Recent Examples of clutter from the Web

Leftover clutter from the previous fall also gets flattened onto the pavement or into the shoulders.

— don stacom, Courant Community, "Ahead of Earth Day, Central Connecticut Groups Offer Volunteer Park, Trail Cleanups," 13 Apr. 2018
And Walker, who lives by herself, was alone again Wednesday morning working to remove the clutter in her yard — but not for long.

— joe cavaretta, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Large tree crashes through home, but area mostly spared after two tornadoes," 11 Apr. 2018
Seattle has introduced dockless bike parking spots to help reduce the clutter of bikes on sidewalks.

— patrick sisson, Curbed, "As new transit startups take over streets and sidewalks, cities need to step up," 11 Apr. 2018
Dozens of rusty barrels and plastic tubs filled with a dark, oily liquid clutter a muddy yard where chickens roam.

— brooke a. lewis, Houston Chronicle, "Historic cemetery found on construction site of FBISD center," 9 Apr. 2018
In the background is the bar's old-school clutter — and a sign offering $5 shots of Malort.

— chris jones, chicagotribune.com, "Where did Michael Shannon watch the Oscars? On a bar TV at the Old Town Ale House," 6 Mar. 2018
But when the longtime TV producer first approached Netflix with an idea near and dear to his heart, it didn’t exactly cut through the clutter.

— nathan mattise, Ars Technica, "The Toys That Made Us: To make a great toy documentary, embrace Jackie Chan," 11 Feb. 2018
Obviously, the supermodel and her husband like to keep things simple because there's absolutely no clutter on the table — just a breathtaking view of the backyard.

— lauren smith, House Beautiful, "Inside Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen’s Cozy Boston Home," 22 Jan. 2018
Except for a few knickknacks from the Swedish company Skultuna, the couple avoids clutter.

— florence kane, WSJ, "At Home With the Power Couple Behind New Makeup Line Westman Atelier," 31 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of clutter

see ¹clutter

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1649

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

clutter Synonyms

Synonyms

agglomerate, agglomeration, assortment, collage, grab bag, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jumble, litter, medley, mélange, miscellany, mishmash, mixed bag, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, patchwork, potpourri, ragbag, rummage, salmagundi, scramble, shuffle, smorgasbord, tumble, variety, welter;

admixture, alloy, amalgam, blend, combination, commixture, composite, compound, fusion, intermixture, mix-up;

mess, morass, shambles;

CLUTTER Defined for English Language Learners

clutter

verb

Definition of clutter for English Language Learners

: to fill or cover (something) with many things : to fill or cover (something) with clutter

clutter

noun

Definition of clutter for English Language Learners

: a large amount of things that are not arranged in a neat or orderly way : a crowded or disordered collection of things

CLUTTER Defined for Kids

clutter

verb clut·ter \ ˈklə-tər \

Definition of clutter for Students

cluttered; cluttering

: to fill or cover with scattered things

clutter

noun

Definition of clutter for Students

: a collection of scattered things

Learn More about clutter

See words that rhyme with clutter Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for clutter Spanish Central: Translation of clutter Nglish: Translation of clutter for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of clutter for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clutter

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clutter

Definition of clutter

Examples of clutter in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of clutter

clutter

Definition of clutter

Examples of clutter in a Sentence

Recent Examples of clutter from the Web

Origin and Etymology of clutter

clutter Synonyms

Synonyms

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CLUTTER Defined for English Language Learners

clutter

Definition of clutter for English Language Learners

clutter

Definition of clutter for English Language Learners

CLUTTER Defined for Kids

clutter

Definition of clutter for Students

clutter

Definition of clutter for Students

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