messy

adjective

ˈme-sē 

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

2

: lacking neatness or precision : careless, slovenly

messy thinking

3

: extremely unpleasant or trying

messy lawsuits

a messy divorce

messily

ˈme-sə-lē 

adverb

messiness

ˈme-sē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of messy

• chaotic
• sloppy
• cluttered
• confused
• littered
• jumbled
• filthy

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

The reckoning with the white-nationalist influencer’s rise is only getting messier. —Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 15 Nov. 2025

In no way utopian, the theaters and the surrounding streets provide messy spaces of contact and connection for those who may not have access elsewhere. —JSTOR Daily, 14 Nov. 2025

Sometimes the greater good is messy as hell. —Noel Murray, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025

When cooking messy dishes like bacon or spaghetti sauce, place a splatter screen over the pan to keep any sputters from covering the cooktop. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for messy

• bessy
• cressy
• dressy
• jesse

Kids Definition

messy

adjective

ˈmes-ē 

messier; messiest

1

: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy

2

: extremely unpleasant or trying

messy lawsuits

messily

ˈmes-ə-lē 

adverb

messiness

ˈmes-ē-nəs 

noun