messier; messiest
1
: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy
a messy room
3
: extremely unpleasant or trying
messy lawsuits
a messy divorce
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
If a mess does happen, clean up spills or messy bakes early so that grime and grease don’t build up.
—
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 29 June 2025
This idea began to fray when early robot AI failed to handle messy, real-world conditions.
—New Atlas, 29 June 2025
While season 1 of The Waterfront has already dropped and delivered its fair share of jaw-dropping moments, things are only going to get messier in a possible second season.
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 29 June 2025
The reunion promises messier drama, holier prayers, and curlier extensions; Nick Viall hosts.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
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Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 29 June 2025
This idea began to fray when early robot AI failed to handle messy, real-world conditions.
—New Atlas, 29 June 2025
While season 1 of The Waterfront has already dropped and delivered its fair share of jaw-dropping moments, things are only going to get messier in a possible second season.
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 29 June 2025
The reunion promises messier drama, holier prayers, and curlier extensions; Nick Viall hosts.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/messy. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
messy
adjective
messier; messiest
1
: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy
2
: extremely unpleasant or trying
messy lawsuits
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