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
As for her glam, the jewelry designer tossed her hair back into a messy bun with strands of hair to frame her face.
—
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 17 June 2025
Lummis said the Banking Committee will attempt to avoid the same messy, public bartering as lawmakers turn their attention to the CLARITY Act, an even broader bill to set rules for digital assets.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 17 June 2025
Worn with the wrong pieces, the look can seem messy or ill-defined.
—René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 17 June 2025
The juxtaposition of popular art’s messy vulgarity with the pristine aspirations of high art is surprisingly uninvolving.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
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Julia Teti, Footwear News, 17 June 2025
Lummis said the Banking Committee will attempt to avoid the same messy, public bartering as lawmakers turn their attention to the CLARITY Act, an even broader bill to set rules for digital assets.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 17 June 2025
Worn with the wrong pieces, the look can seem messy or ill-defined.
—René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 17 June 2025
The juxtaposition of popular art’s messy vulgarity with the pristine aspirations of high art is surprisingly uninvolving.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 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 30 Jun. 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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