clutter

1 of 2

verb

clut·​ter ˈklə-tər 

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

Synonyms of clutter

Noun

• jumble
• variety
• assortment
• collage
• medley

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

These items can quickly clutter the closet, entryway, and garage, taking up valuable storage space and making your home look less than tidy. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026

Quiet the everyday packaging Objects don’t always clutter a room; sometimes the packaging is at fault. — Amanda Sims, Architectural Digest, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

Oftentimes, the kitchen cabinets become a storage catch-all for all kinds of items, which can easily accumulate clutter over time. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 26 Aug. 2026

The company's website states the robot can handle vacuuming floors, taking out the trash and clearing the clutter. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

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

Rhymes for clutter

• butter
• cutter
• flutter
• gutter
• mutter
• nutter
• putter
• rutter
• shutter
• sputter
• stutter
• utter

Kids Definition

clutter

1 of 2 verb

clut·​ter ˈklət-ər 

: to fill or cover with a disorderly scattering of things

clutter up a room

clutter

2 of 2 noun

: a crowded or confused collection