as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
the quilt was a higgledy-piggledy patchwork of odd-shaped fabric scraps, each of which held a fond memory for the family
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in topsy-turvy
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of higgledy-piggledy
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
16 Mar. 2026
The grid breaks down in Lower Manhattan and the streets begin to look higgledy-piggledy and more challenging to navigate.
—
Literary Hub,
14 Nov. 2025
Renovating and expanding the higgledy-piggledy building—a monumental project that finally will welcome guests in February—will usher in the next chapter in the château’s story.
—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
18 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Although the bowls are often artfully arranged, this version is casual, with steamed vegetables added atop the rice in a higgledy-piggledy array.
—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
16 Mar. 2026
The grid breaks down in Lower Manhattan and the streets begin to look higgledy-piggledy and more challenging to navigate.
—
Literary Hub,
14 Nov. 2025
Renovating and expanding the higgledy-piggledy building—a monumental project that finally will welcome guests in February—will usher in the next chapter in the château’s story.
—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for higgledy-piggledy
Adjective
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Entrepreneurship or a portfolio of roles feels messier than earning a regular salary because the risk is more visible.
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Many real texts from family members are short, rushed and a little messy.
Adverb
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Like Mahrez, Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer seemed slightly dazed following the topsy-turvy turn of events.
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But thanks to Haiti’s determination to leave an entertaining mark on this tournament, and Morocco’s shocked need to respond, the crowd were treated to a topsy-turvy fiesta of football.
Adjective
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Interview with the Vampire’s composer Daniel Hart has taken the audience on a wonderfully chaotic journey through different styles of music in The Vampire Lestat.
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The events surrounding the funeral were chaotic, with eight people killed and hundreds injured, according to a report written by the Associated Press news agency at the time.
Adverb
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When alerts start to fluctuate unpredictably or systems require constant recalibration, teams often lose trust quickly.
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Although flu seasons can vary in disease severity, the virus mutates so unpredictably that pandemic flu seasons – like those in 1918, 1957, 1968 and 2009 – are a recurring possibility.
Adjective
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Birkin’s signature unfussy aesthetic translated well to her living environments, which featured a jumbled array of objects of all kinds, layered by years of flea market finds and vintage store visits.
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The shore now alternated between open sandy or rocky beaches and jumbled boulders ranging from a foot to many feet in diameter.
Adverb
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Martin Filler The Met’s new Tristan und Isolde was a vocal triumph for Lise Davidsen and Michael Spyres, but Yuval Sharon’s staging only fitfully captured the essence of Wagner’s masterpiece.
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That’s Duncan’s dilemma from the very beginning of this fitfully hilarious episode of The Audacity.
Adjective
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In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.
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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.
Adverb
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Roosevelt lived and ranched in North Dakota intermittently for about two years after the deaths of his wife and mother on the same day in 1884.
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Rosana Rodriguez, 33rd, whose office is in contact with Martinez-Sifontes’ family, said Albany Park has recently seen fewer ICE encounters than during earlier phases of Operation Midway Blitz, but said enforcement activity still surfaces intermittently.
Cite this Entry
“Higgledy-piggledy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/higgledy-piggledy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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