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higgledy-piggledy 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of higgledy-piggledynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

higgledy-piggledy

2 of 2

adverb

as in topsy-turvy

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of higgledy-piggledy
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 Death to Order reads like an anti-thriller—this despite its international ambit and the corpses of prominent statesmen strewn higgledy-piggledy across its pages. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025 Elsbeth volunteers to stay at his schmancy, higgledy-piggledy Asian-fusion wellness center to continue the investigation. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025 The oft wild, higgledy-piggledy marketing of so many strains, preparations and products has lead to an erosion of meaning for the customer base. — Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025 Instead of obsessing over the latest higgledy-piggledy, do something useful. — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for higgledy-piggledy
  1. messy
  2. topsy-turvy
  3. chaotic
  4. unpredictably
  5. jumbled
  6. fitfully
  7. littered
  8. intermittently
Adjective
  • Both parties emerged from the progressive era as messy coalitions of diverse constituencies and interests, not uniform ideologies.
    — Isaac Arnsdorf, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026
  • This is where things get messy, and many folks — oligarchs in particular — become invested in keeping the general voter confused.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of messy
Adverb
  • Like Mahrez, Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer seemed slightly dazed following the topsy-turvy turn of events.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 June 2026
  • 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.
    — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of topsy-turvy
Adjective
  • The air space easily becomes crowded and in the case of moving stories like car chases, a bit unpredictable and chaotic.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
  • And in the Prokofiev, the Philharmonic delivers a thrilling mix of chaotic exuberance and acrobatic precision.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adverb
  • The prospect of Helen Mirren playing the legendary author Patricia Highsmith at her most unpredictably misanthropic should be enough of a selling point for A Talent for Murder.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
  • How these two segments smash together so unpredictably and imaginatively makes this yet another new horror film that thinks outside of the box.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpredictably
Adjective
  • Entering the season, two quarterbacks sit in the top tier, followed by a drop-off to the second and third tiers — both of which are crowded and jumbled.
    — Dane Brugler, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Imagine a termite carving a path like a jumbled ball of string through a tree trunk, instead of an axe cleaving a single vector.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of jumbled
Adverb
  • The participants in the meditation group slept more fitfully, with more frequent awakenings, than those who didn’t meditate.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
  • 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.
    — The New York Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, 23 May 2026
Definition of fitfully
Adjective
  • In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.
    — Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Definition of littered
Adverb
  • Williams intermittently cuts to ominous exterior shots of a dark church and layers in a score of hymnal lament.
    — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 15 Sep. 2026
  • There’s no way to know, so Pochettino must explore other options intermittently.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of intermittently

Browse Nearby Words

hies
higgledy-piggledy
high
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“Higgledy-piggledy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/higgledy-piggledy. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on higgledy-piggledy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about higgledy-piggledy

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