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
First and foremost will be the aftermath of the messy business involving Gibbs, Franks, Lala, and the murder of Pedro Hernandez.
—
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
Pine straw tends to have a messier, more natural look.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Between the messy decline of solar cycle 25 and the possibility of a dramatic last gasp, aurora hunters may still have their best nights ahead.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Showcase the messy beginner stage, on social media, to your close circles of friends — not just the end product.
—Sinéad O'Sullivan, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
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Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
Pine straw tends to have a messier, more natural look.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Between the messy decline of solar cycle 25 and the possibility of a dramatic last gasp, aurora hunters may still have their best nights ahead.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Showcase the messy beginner stage, on social media, to your close circles of friends — not just the end product.
—Sinéad O'Sullivan, CNBC, 3 Oct. 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 7 Oct. 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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