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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

higgledy-piggledy

2 of 2

adverb

as in topsy-turvy

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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
  • Rather, a messy conflict oscillating between bouts of strikes and periods of relative calm beckons, while mediators look for new avenues to revive negotiations.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • This is an ideal arrangement for handling bulky or messy supplies for projects, or for letting maintenance personnel into the home to work on the mechanical systems.
    — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 19 July 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
  • If Spain keep cool, then Argentina run hot; a warm-blooded, emotional, often chaotic side where performances swing wildly within games, never mind from one match to the next.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • In the chaotic main event, Cody Rhodes defeated Gunther by DQ when Sami Zayn interfered, escalating tensions ahead of Saturday's tag match.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adverb
  • Without all three, autonomous AI systems will continue to operate unpredictably, creating risks that undermine trust and reduce ROI.
    — Jesse Stockall, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • But patients also need confidence that review standards will not shift unpredictably after sponsors and investigators have designed trials in consultation with the agency.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Definition of unpredictably
Adjective
  • In it, four contestants solve jumbled words and phrases that unscramble right before their eyes; as the tiles unscramble, the clues get easier, and the player buzzing in with the most correct answers earns a shot at the $10,000 grand prize.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 14 July 2026
  • 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.
    — Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 1 July 2026
Definition of jumbled
Adverb
  • 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
  • That’s Duncan’s dilemma from the very beginning of this fitfully hilarious episode of The Audacity.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 19 Apr. 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
  • Munda, 19, has intermittently trained with the seniors over the past couple of seasons and the energetic midfielder is primed for a loan move in the new season.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Since renewable energy sources like the sun and the wind cannot be operated on demand and produce energy intermittently, the energy generated needs to be stored till required by the grid.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026
Definition of intermittently

Browse Nearby Words

hies
higgledy-piggledy
high
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Higgledy-piggledy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/higgledy-piggledy. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on higgledy-piggledy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about higgledy-piggledy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dog days

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All