as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
having a messy room is virtually de rigueur for a college student
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of messy
Amid the boom of bombshell hair comes Kristen Stewart and her messy bangs.
—
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
Her hair is pulled into a low, messy bun.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The final Mercury retrograde of 2025 is the messiest.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 6 Nov. 2025
Known for creating characters with humor and relatable, often dramatic, storylines, McMillan has had to live some of her own drama in the public eye, including a messy divorce.
—Essence, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
Her hair is pulled into a low, messy bun.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The final Mercury retrograde of 2025 is the messiest.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 6 Nov. 2025
Known for creating characters with humor and relatable, often dramatic, storylines, McMillan has had to live some of her own drama in the public eye, including a messy divorce.
—Essence, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messy
Adjective
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This is bloody and chaotic, and reasonably interesting.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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In November 2023, Destiny Udogie and Cristian Romero were sent off in a chaotic 4-1 defeat.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This team isn’t talented enough to beat the Ravens with errors and sloppy operation.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Oct. 2025
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Shares of Target have tumbled about 35% in the last year, as its own merchandising issues, a sloppier store experience and boycotts over its rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion programs all weigh on its business.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Too many pillows can appear cluttered.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Nov. 2025
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Outside the home, Axiom technicians will evaluate landscape conditions to assess the potential for pest activity; examples include yards with cluttered landscaping, loose debris, wood piles, or standing water.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Prince Harry's hat choice confused fans, who believed the royal should have been rooting for the Toronto Blue Jays due to Canada’s link to the United Kingdom.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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George Catts, the city council’s agricultural commissioner who led the parade atop his horse, was confused.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.—
Scarlett Harris,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
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Cigarette butts are the most littered item on the planet.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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While tonally jumbled and at times violently jarring, the movie delivers strange vibes and extremely strong performances from Jesse Plemons at his oddball finest and Emma Stone, who may or may not be from our planet.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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Another study challenging the MICI scenario noted that breaking ice also tends to form a mélange, a dense, jumbled slurry of icebergs and sea ice.—
Evan Howell,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The couple slept on a filthy mattress on the floor with their 4-year-old son, Stephano.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The big comedy set pieces overwhelm Miller’s attempts at satire, but any movie that has Nicholson casually dropping filthy double (and single) entendres beneath arched eyebrows is worth a look.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messy. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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