as in hell
a state in which everything is out of order
the lack of planning had resulted in the city's evacuation being a mare's nest of epic proportions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mare's nest
Noun
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All hell is unleashed as the aliens representing all kinds of shapes and class divisions from that planet square off with the locals.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
18 May 2026 -
Suddenly, all hell broke loose.—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
Noun
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The inconsistent role wreaked havoc with his shot.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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Just ask Panthers guard Robert Hunt, who has stories about Eagles fans climbing onto opposing team buses and wreaking havoc.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Becerra blunder The first ad that grabbed my attention was a quick-turn by San José Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan (still stuck in single-digit polling numbers), who jumped on Xavier Becerra’s first major mess-up.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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That way, the bristles can cling to your skincare products instead of dripping into the brush’s base and making a mess.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
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Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Steady footsteps changed from an organized march into chaos as civil rights protesters fled the attacks of police.—
Sarah Clifton,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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Somewhere in the chaos, a stylist balances an iced latte, three phones and a couture gown worth more than a Riviera apartment.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Constant changes and slow IRS guidance led to widespread confusion and, eventually, abuse that forced the IRS to put a moratorium on claims on September 14, 2023 until August 8, 2024.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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So there’s little doubt that the emergence of jumbo-size Messi’s across America’s lawns create more intrigue than confusion, even in a nation where soccer as a whole remains a second-tier sport.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
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By mimicking the biological blueprint of snake pit organs and combining it with semiconductor manufacturing, the researchers have opened a path toward truly accessible thermal vision.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Dec. 2025
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But at home, his Garfield is a gentle, loving husband, father and farmer — an unlikely person to rise to the top in the snake pit of national government in the 1880s.—
David Bianculli,
NPR,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that about 30 percent of people experiencing chronic homelessness live with a serious mental illness, and nearly half have a co-occurring substance use disorder.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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Chronic circadian misalignment is associated with a 30-40% higher risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, depression and anxiety.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Mare's nest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mare%27s%20nest. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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