1
as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order
the bachelor party had left the house in a total mess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in meal
food eaten or prepared for eating at one time
a mess of oatmeal
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
4
as in loads
a considerable amount
an unexpected Super Bowl loss that unleashed a whole mess of finger-pointing and second-guessing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to interfere
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
please don't mess with me while I'm trying to concentrate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 mess
Jihane Bousfiha, Vulture, 2 July 2025
Life in Weisshorn is a mess of lies and trauma, and Nel’s ready to break out.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 26 June 2025
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
So, avoid messing things up with these simple tips for cooking delicious, juicy cheeseburgers on a propane grill.
—Joe Difazio, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mess
Noun
The first is a decent brunette one seen in flashbacks, and the second is a short brown flippy mess that closely resembles a rat’s nest.
—Jihane Bousfiha, Vulture, 2 July 2025
Life in Weisshorn is a mess of lies and trauma, and Nel’s ready to break out.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 26 June 2025
Verb
But, if those guys [the oligarchs] do start messing everything up, then there is really something for normal people to worry about.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
So, avoid messing things up with these simple tips for cooking delicious, juicy cheeseburgers on a propane grill.
—Joe Difazio, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess
Noun
-
The bacteria causing havoc for summer swimmers include E.coli and Enterococcus — nasty germs often found in the feces of people and animals.—
Shreya Srinivasan,
NBC news,
3 July 2025
-
Cilic was never in the contest because of a foot blister that was causing havoc with pain and movement, something that was imperative against the balletic Federer.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Incorporate it as a savory drink as part of a meal.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
-
Skipping meals, especially breakfast, may negatively impact blood sugar control.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Game Pass experienced a huge surge of sign-ups during the COVID years, but growth has tapered, and a ceiling has to be in sight.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
-
Some people strained for a view of the chapel, for a sight of the family.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
Verb
-
That allowed a returning Tonga Loa to interfere and nearly cost Fatu the match.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
Salwa, the narrator, decides to interfere and starts a series of comic attempts to set them up.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
There’s more pressing current affairs to attend to right now, and hell, there’s a new Lorde album to bop to.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
-
Season two saw Valerie cast in an HBO project about the sitcom writer who made her life hell in season one, earning widespread acclaim professionally even as her personal life was falling apart.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
The menu features a range of prime steaks, from classic filet mignon to specialty A5 Japanese wagyu strip, and a line of seafood appetizers and entrees.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2025
-
Depending on the place, how am I getting greeted or not, what does the menu say about the restaurant? LM: The texture of the sounds, how many people are there, the quality of the light.—
Sylvie Bigar,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Well, consider that, unlike what’s happening in the world at large, the frights and delights inside Viola’s Room are actually fun.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
26 June 2025
-
Ah well, Cesare already has two sequel novels published, so there’s already plenty more Frendo the Clown frights ready to be harvested.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Look for Alphabet to deploy the Buy and Link defensive strategies — vacuuming up promising AI advertising startups and offering discounting and packaging deals to extant search customers that want to experiment with the Google AI advertising platform.—
Forrester,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
How a last-minute deal pushed Trump's megabill through the Senate.—
Isabella Murray,
ABC News,
1 July 2025
Video
Hot Mess
Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings
Cite this Entry
“Mess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share