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
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
For many travelers, the process of planning their trips is a grueling slog through endless price comparisons and messy browser tabs.
—
Sydney Goh, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
This reckoning, for the Novak women, is messy.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
The 1998 storyline can be precise and procedural and investigative, while the present day storyline is emotionally messy and cumulative.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
His mind games and her loneliness combine for a heady cocktail of desire and mistrust, a messy situation that feels very human but is deeply uncomfortable to watch.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for messy
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Sydney Goh, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
This reckoning, for the Novak women, is messy.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
The 1998 storyline can be precise and procedural and investigative, while the present day storyline is emotionally messy and cumulative.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
His mind games and her loneliness combine for a heady cocktail of desire and mistrust, a messy situation that feels very human but is deeply uncomfortable to watch.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for messy
Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/messy. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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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