1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
a hugger-mugger presentation of the facts of the case that left everyone confused
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
a tale of hugger-mugger doings and international espionage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugger-mugger
Adjective
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When actually the true version of ourselves is kind of messy, chaotic and vulnerable.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026 -
In its equilibrium, a good tomato sandwich is juicy and unctuous and appropriately messy, which is praise all too often reserved for hot sandwiches like cheesesteaks or patty melts.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Some may be announced publicly; others may happen in more clandestine ways.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
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But clandestine flows aren’t the biggest factor behind the market calm.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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His distinct sensibility — by turns theatrical, ironic, chaotic, heartfelt — was native to the Internet.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2026
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The media newsletters and trades have written up transcripts of chaotic meetings and tracked Weiss and new 60 Minutes chief Nick Bilton’s daily movements, while the Times has sent multiple push alerts to millions of readers for stories about the chaos inside CBS.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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His most recent conviction resulted from a 2018 case when authorities said he was shot after ramming multiple Fremont undercover police cars, as officers tried to arrest him in a string of car burglaries across the Bay Area.—
Harry Harris,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
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Years earlier, in 2001, the undercover detective involved claimed her career had been ruined by the case, and received around $166,000 in an out-of-court settlement, per the BBC.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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San Antonio made nine of its first 11 shots, with the Knicks and their fans frustrated by the referees and the home team’s sloppy play, and led 33-22 after one.—
Brian Mahoney,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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Later in 2025 Blanche oversaw the release of documents as mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which drew criticism from Epstein survivors as being slow, sloppy, and incomplete.—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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In mid-January, as Iran crushed wide-scale protests with the mass killing of demonstrators, Israel prepared a covert mission along the Azerbaijan-Iran border, two of the sources familiar with the plans told CNN.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
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The facility's revelation came less than two years after North Korea unveiled another covert uranium-enrichment plant in September 2024, in its first public disclosure of such a facility since showing one at the country's main Yongbyon nuclear complex to visiting American scholars in 2010.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
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There will also be a dedicated ski reception lobby and ski locker room, meeting and conference facilities, as well as two levels of underground parking.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
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Below the unit is 24-hour concierge service, security and underground parking.—
Kaitlyn Keegan,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hugger-mugger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugger-mugger. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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