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
Relevance
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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Worn with the wrong pieces, the look can seem messy or ill-defined.—
René Chávez Esparza,
Glamour,
17 June 2025 -
Lummis said the Banking Committee will attempt to avoid the same messy, public bartering as lawmakers turn their attention to the CLARITY Act, an even broader bill to set rules for digital assets.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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The Square, from South Korean director Bo-Sol Kim, which blends political commentary with experimental animation in its story of a Swedish diplomat in Pyongyang who begins a clandestine affair with a local traffic officer, took the jury prize of the Contrechamps section.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 June 2025
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During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alcala — without school authorization — took wrestling mats from El Modena, had the wrestling team load them into a U-Haul truck, and then took them to a warehouse for clandestine practices, Plaintiff Two said.—
Scott Schwebke,
Oc Register,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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He was reinstated after a chaotic week that included a mass employee revolt and a brief stint at Microsoft.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
20 June 2025
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More than a decade ago, a Reuters investigation concluded that Iran's ayatollah also controlled a massive financial empire built on property seizures in the chaotic years after the 1979 revolution, when many Iranians fled overseas.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Sarli did, however, recently post about the ordeal on TikTok, so her viral video and media attention might expose their undercover rendezvous to the bride and groom.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
18 June 2025
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But improv actors going deep undercover felt like a peanut butter and chocolate combination.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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For every regime change at the hands of Americans that went well—think Adolf Hitler’s exit from Germany and Benito Mussolini from Italy—there are multitudes that went off the rails: six overt attempts during the Cold War and another 64 in covert operations.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
19 June 2025
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The Whyte Python World Tour by Travis Kennedy The laughs are as big as the mullets in this rollicking story about a hugely successful hair-metal band that’s really a cover for a covert operation in Cold War-era Eastern Europe.—
Andrea Lavinthal,
People.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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Troubled Factories: The medications came mostly from plants in India where inspectors found contaminated drugs, filthy labs and falsified records.—
Debbie Cenziper,
ProPublica,
17 June 2025
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The next year, his fame reached a new echelon after the release of Pumping Iron, a docudrama that highlighted Schwarzenegger's strange charisma and filthy sense of humor.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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Israel has struck Natanz repeatedly and claims to have hurt its underground facilities, which experts assess contain 10,000 centrifuges that enrich uranium up to 60%.—
Natalie Melzer,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2025
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Often times, vacant lots may be contaminated with hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead paint or underground storage tanks, posing risks to human health and the environment.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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The private orbital mission will bring billionaire Jared Isaacman to space for a second time after 2021′s Inspiration4 mission.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 June 2025
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What is the best way to stay private, secure and anonymous while browsing the web?—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hugger-mugger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugger-mugger. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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