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
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Recent Examples of mess
Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
The fabric blend includes viscose made from bamboo, which has cooling properties that help prevent you from overheating and becoming a sweaty mess this summer.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2026
Michael Hollett, SPIN, 14 June 2026
Hormone changes can mess with your oral health.
—Erica Sweeney, Washington Post, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess
Noun
Ornatov praises this cleaner for its ability to dissolve and absorb the mess, which keeps you from having to scrub the same spot repeatedly—time saved, effort reduced.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
The fabric blend includes viscose made from bamboo, which has cooling properties that help prevent you from overheating and becoming a sweaty mess this summer.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2026
Verb
That crash really messed me up.
—Michael Hollett, SPIN, 14 June 2026
Hormone changes can mess with your oral health.
—Erica Sweeney, Washington Post, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess
Noun
-
To wreak havoc on an unknown person.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
20 June 2026
-
He was also caught on surveillance video allegedly on the attack outside a pizzeria with a weapon, the outlet reported, adding that social media videos show havoc in other areas of the city as well.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
Kids' camps with nightly meals and activities keep younger guests engaged, while babysitting services allow parents to unwind.—
Chelsea Adams,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
-
All in all, a good meal that leaves no bitter aftertaste.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Construction outside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center has become a familiar sight in downtown Dallas since July 2025.—
Dawn White,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
Where many organizations fall behind is in focusing mostly on employee access while ignoring how applications, workloads and machine identities talk to each other out of sight.—
Scott Alldridge,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
As one of Montana’s longest standing dude ranches, the property is constantly reimagining through refined design, a wildly impressive staff, and heaps of annual events bringing loads of travelers, from local to first-time ranchers alike.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
-
At Cattlemen’s, still newish from its $3 million remodeling, the menu leads with a 2-pound porterhouse ($95) and loads of Western steakhouse character.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Negrón also referred to the Justice Department and its Office of Government Ethics, the findings of an internal investigation led by the economic development agency against two government officials, who are accused of interfering in the process for an auction of a contract involving federal funds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
-
The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America undertake to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Politicians and pundits and former residents have battered New York City in recent years, branding our town as a symbol of a country gone to hell.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
-
Sunday will be one hell of a day for America, that is for sure.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Now the menu item being added is online activity.—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2026
-
The concise menu, by Dutch chef Karin Gaasterland, skews Moroccan-French.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
Both O’Flynn and Rhys have had spotlight episodes so far this season, but will Emmys voters see the pathos and creativity behind the laughs and frights?—
William Earl,
Variety,
11 June 2026
-
Copyright 2025, all frights reserved.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
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 23 Jun. 2026.
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