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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
  • So far, the adoption of AI in production workflows have been stalled due to legal constraints around ownership, among other things involving messy copyright questions.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Four years ago, Pugh’s movie Don’t Worry Darling was the talk of the Venice Film Festival due to rumored behind-the-scenes drama and a messy rollout, including a press conference Pugh missed—allegedly due to a scheduling conflict.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 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
  • Saturdays on the couch before the widescreen with beer, chicken wings and cheese dip might also be the best way to escape our ugly, chaotic politics.
    — Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) have discovered that passing waves through a special class of synthetic media forces them to abandon chaotic scattering entirely.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adverb
  • If China agrees to participate, that would create an open line for either side to send alerts when their country’s AI systems pose threats or behave unpredictably.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Norms do shift, sometimes unpredictably, as people watch one another live.
    — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 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
  • Encore revisits that album’s musical ingredients and amorous but intermittently cantankerous spirit.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Prison staff intermittently shut off Maier's water access to prevent him from flooding his cell, but didn't properly document when the water was turned on or off, the Dodge County Sheriff's Office investigation found.
    — Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of intermittently

Browse Nearby Words

hies
higgledy-piggledy
high
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Cite this Entry

“Higgledy-piggledy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/higgledy-piggledy. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on higgledy-piggledy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about higgledy-piggledy

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