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
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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
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Recent Examples of mess
Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 6 May 2026
Republicans, both state and federal, are responsible for this mess.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
But Grandmere would not be messing with her phone while driving, anyway.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess
Noun
Windows Vista and its early WDDM woes had reduced my previously badass main PC with two Nvidia 7900GT cards in SLI to a stuttering BSOD-spitting mess, and the future of Microsoft OSes looked bleak—Windows 7 wouldn’t be along to change the situation for years.
—Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 6 May 2026
Republicans, both state and federal, are responsible for this mess.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Verb
But Jefferson found the experience of sitting there while lesser writers messed with his prose unbearable.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
But Grandmere would not be messing with her phone while driving, anyway.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess
Noun
-
Used his size and good wheels to create havoc in the offensive zone, took on all comers and pitched in offensively with double-digit goals.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
-
Now, using currently available AI models, the barriers of entry to wreaking cyber havoc have been lowered.—
Hugh Son,Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Dad always told you breakfast was the most important meal of the day.—
Hannah Lee Leidy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 May 2026
-
On another occasion out for a meal with friends in NYC, Swift embraced her most bridal look yet, wearing a black spaghetti strap tank top from the The Row paired with an ivory silk maxi skirt from Meshki—well, very bridal, but also very Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.—
Irene Kim,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The window next to my desk overlooks the gym’s large communal exercise room, and throughout the day, I am taunted by the sight of gyrating bodies panting through a Zumba class or a kettlebell set.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
For now, though, Lozano remains out of sight, but not out of the conversation.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
There are loads of under-the-radar towns along these states' coastlines that have their own unique charms and draws.—
Amy Thomas,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2026
-
Buckle up for loads of action and a wild ride through SoCal history and haunts.—
Paula L. Woods,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Kam Hendrix interfered in the match, but NXT North American champion Myles Borne came in and chased him off.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
Helm had hoped to get started at Juju yesterday, but operational difficulties during the transition interfered.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Maybe someday, someone will make a musical about a movie based on a musical that goes to hell when all of the top-level producers and creatives go to war against each other.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
12 May 2026
-
The characters then cross the nine concentric circles of hell, beginning with Limbo and then various circles where the souls of those who commit different sins end up.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The menu is full of sustaining stews, ample vegetables and, from the toné (clay oven), khachapuri, a genre of breads infiltrated by cheese and by turns fluffy, elastic, oozy and tender.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Later in the day, the menu shifts to a more international focus.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
In set-pieces involving the Pooka, dark lighting and strong use of shadow results in some scenes that can give younger viewers a genuine fright.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
-
The 1390 Super Duke RR is leaner and better appointed for handling than the regular Super Duke R, and is sure to give your insurer a proper fright.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Apr. 2026
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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 14 May. 2026.
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