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
Aki Nace, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
For those concerned about the mess or potential odor of loose organic material, White suggests wrapping the material in paper bags or newspaper.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Whether antiques, cherished knickknacks, or heirlooms, items that are very delicate and/or precious to the customer are typically items house cleaners won’t want to mess with in order to cut down the risk of damaging them.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess
Noun
The snow moved in steadily Wednesday, causing a mess during the evening commute.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
For those concerned about the mess or potential odor of loose organic material, White suggests wrapping the material in paper bags or newspaper.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Bulls can’t afford to mess the next nine weeks up — because Buzelis is the future in Chicago.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Whether antiques, cherished knickknacks, or heirlooms, items that are very delicate and/or precious to the customer are typically items house cleaners won’t want to mess with in order to cut down the risk of damaging them.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess
Noun
-
America’s obsession with betting has created havoc for NBA players, who have faced a torrent of abuse from fans and spoken out publicly about it.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
With his size and strength, McDonald can regularly get into the backfield and create havoc.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After your meal, browse through the nearby gift shop, which features items like ceramic citrus juicers, Casa Cody archival postcards, cookbooks, and playing cards.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
On Thursday evening, families sat amid the rubble and destruction for iftar, the meal held at the end of the daily dawn-to-dusk fast.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Once the blocks and spires of Palma faded into the distance, the 25-minute drive from the airport took me past crumbling homes, fields of curious farm animals, and not a soul in sight for miles at a time.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The incredible sight of Hannibal’s elephants left its mark on the historical record, but no direct physical evidence of their presence in Western Europe had previously been discovered.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Autonomous aircraft can move smaller loads more discreetly.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
-
For larger loads, the company recommends using two tiles.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At their elite school the students play a game like soccer during which the boys have the ball, but the witches can interfere by using their powers to make the field icy or create a wind that foils the opposition team.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
-
In a statement early Thursday evening, the mayor’s office denied interfering in the search process, saying Johnson has not been presented with any candidates so far.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As Bellocchio shows, overnight Tortora’s life became a living hell, one that would go on, in prisons and courts and in the tabloids, for years.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Sold to Menemsha, genuinely tense and gorgeously shot, highlighting the heavenly mountains and a historical hell.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Guests can enjoy a delightful complimentary breakfast (yogurt and granola, juices, coffee, and baked goods) or order from the full-service menu for an additional fee.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The menu features a range of options, including chicken, beef, sausage and shrimp, along with vegetarian and vegan choices such as mushrooms and tofu.—
Susan Soldavin,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Knott’s has unveiled its annual Seasons of Fun calendar that includes events dedicated to Peanuts characters, Boysenberry treats, summertime barbecues, Halloween frights and Christmas cheer.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
29 Dec. 2025
-
Though Heitor is claimed to be no more harmful than a puppy, there are some moments of fright for Griff who is a little uneasy acting opposite him and at one point panics and tosses him overboard, resulting in Heitor’s gruesome demise.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
23 Dec. 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 23 Feb. 2026.
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