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
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
Scanning a room packed with Republicans bracing for a messy scramble to succeed Marjorie Taylor Greene in northwest Georgia, the 14th District GOP chair outlined a prospect that not long ago would have drawn laughs.
—
Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The truth is that while many people use it to cover bowls or plates, using plastic wrap incorrectly in the microwave can lead to melted wrap, messy food, or even chemical leaching.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Which appears to be the case when Hana wakes up after a heavy night of clubbing with the messy debris of a large takeout assortment on her bedroom floor and yet somehow feels different.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Here, mixing different chain thicknesses lends itself well to creating some messy texture to make the outfit feel more relaxed and organic.
—Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for messy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The truth is that while many people use it to cover bowls or plates, using plastic wrap incorrectly in the microwave can lead to melted wrap, messy food, or even chemical leaching.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Which appears to be the case when Hana wakes up after a heavy night of clubbing with the messy debris of a large takeout assortment on her bedroom floor and yet somehow feels different.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Here, mixing different chain thicknesses lends itself well to creating some messy texture to make the outfit feel more relaxed and organic.
—Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 3 Feb. 2026
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 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
messy
adjective
messier; messiest
1
: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy
2
: extremely unpleasant or trying
messy lawsuits
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
