messier; messiest
1
: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy
a messy room
3
: extremely unpleasant or trying
messy lawsuits
a messy divorce
Synonyms
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
During his Twilight days, the actor was known for his messy, gravity-defying locks.
—
Ariana Quihuiz, Peoplemag, 9 May 2024
Potentially messy stuff, but the organization has done a lot right with its initiatives in the surrounding community.
—Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for messy 
Ariana Quihuiz, Peoplemag, 9 May 2024
Potentially messy stuff, but the organization has done a lot right with its initiatives in the surrounding community.
—Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for messy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'messy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/messy. Accessed 12 May. 2024.
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messy
adjective
messier; messiest
1
: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy
2
: extremely unpleasant or trying
messy lawsuits
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