clutter

1 of 2

verb

clut·​ter ˈklə-tər How to pronounce clutter (audio)
cluttered; cluttering; clutters

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.

clutter

2 of 2

noun

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

Examples of clutter in a Sentence

Verb The garage was cluttered with tools. Try to avoid cluttering your desk with books and papers. Noun 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 on the Web
Verb
That day at MoMA, Jonas and Janevski were talking in the museum’s model room, where doll-size configurations of exhibits are imagined, and maquettes of the museum’s various spaces, each for a different forthcoming show, clutter the tables. Susan Dominus Emiliano Granado, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 The terrain is wild and dusty, with no people or shacks cluttering the panoramas. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 Grouping two large pendants offers ample light without cluttering or obstructing views. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 While in the case of online search, AI lets fraudsters make the sort of junk content that’s cluttering Google’s search results at an unprecedented scale. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 18 Jan. 2024 No stoplights, streetlamps or billboards clutter the landscape. Robin Soslow, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Most of the omnipresent chains that clutter Britain’s dwindling high streets are tolerated at best, or maligned at worst. Rory Smith, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2023 Balance Visuals And Text Create visuals that balance beauty with substance, and avoid cluttering your slides with too much text or visuals. Yec, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 Then, just as abruptly, the parapet has crumbled, cluttering the water with floating pieces of brash. Krista Stevens, Longreads, 7 Feb. 2024
Noun
Levinson-Katz said savvy sellers who ensure their homes are in show-ready condition by removing clutter, servicing their HVAC systems, washing windows, and cleaning sewer lines experience multiple offers and maximize their profits. Sara B. Hansen, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Stories cut through the noise and clutter and get straight to what matters—building an emotional connection. Jason Haddock, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 But what does the science say about clutter and productivity? Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024 For a consumer who favors a minimalist design, the AI may streamline the interface by removing clutter and emphasizing key functions. Serge Beck, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 That’s grief, too—just kind of clearing away the clutter. Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2024 Still, clutter may be better for encouraging certain tasks, or even ways of thinking. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024 Now, the lines of the new 3 Series have been pared down, with fewer layers and less visual clutter. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024 If brands are to cut through the clutter and truly establish relationships with would-be and current consumers, these marketers have to move beyond communications and start focusing their efforts on kinetics, because actions speak louder than words. Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clutter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English clotteren to clot, from clot

First Known Use

Verb

1556, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of clutter was in 1556

Dictionary Entries Near clutter

Cite this Entry

“Clutter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clutter. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

clutter

1 of 2 verb
clut·​ter ˈklət-ər How to pronounce clutter (audio)
: to fill or cover with a disorderly scattering of things
clutter up a room

clutter

2 of 2 noun
: a crowded or confused collection

More from Merriam-Webster on clutter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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