messy

1 of 2

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

messiness

2 of 2

noun

mess·​i·​ness ˈmesēnə̇s 

-sin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being messy

there is a certain messiness in the analysis in that he is forced from the start to assume multiple values

—A. A. Hill

Synonyms of messy

Adjective

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

Examples of messy in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Even British Vogue has highlighted its revival, dubbing it the ’00s messy-prep revival piece. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026

Notice which person colleagues seek out when a problem gets messy; that person is likely doing invisible work that keeps projects moving. — Tyson Gundersen, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

This makes sense, given that our meat circuits are messy things that depend on complex, changing biological dynamics. — Mike McRae 19, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026

Fencing, orange cones, and loose gravel lay in a messy tumble beside its entrance; a tarp was draped, like a dishrag, across the roof. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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