mess 1 of 2

noun

ˈmes How to pronounce mess (audio)
Definition of messnext
1
as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order the bachelor party had left the house in a total mess

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2
as in meal
food eaten or prepared for eating at one time a mess of oatmeal

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3
as in sight
something unpleasant to look at the car was a mess after the accident

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4
as in loads
a considerable amount an unexpected Super Bowl loss that unleashed a whole mess of finger-pointing and second-guessing

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mess

2 of 2

verb

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

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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
Noun
The 2021 event was pushed to September over lingering Covid concerns, but then Hurricane Ida forced its cancellation when rains turned the Farm into a muddy mess. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026 The whole mess perfectly highlight how AI models can further biases deeply entrenched in their training data from the open web. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
The sequence in which Carmy tries to talk Richie down from a panic attack feels equally dynamic and alive right to its conclusion — when Carmy pretends they’ve gotten locked in, just as Carmy once was, to mess with Richie’s head. — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026 No one can match her depth and passion to get vengeance on Krem of the Yellow Hills for messing with her family — a sentiment Cancers understand. — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess
  1. havoc
  2. meal
  3. sight
  4. loads
  5. interfere
  6. hell
  7. menu
  8. fright
Noun
  • His worldview has brought nothing but havoc to Americans, whereas Parton provided a guidebook for a national redemption.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • After a stop in the NFL, former Mississippi tight end Dae’Quan Wright could be heading to LSU thanks to a court order that is creating havoc throughout college sports by allowing Wright and others an unexpected fifth year of eligibility.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • Cafeteria staff don’t use cash registers — kids’ meal accounts are linked to the cloud.
    — Linda Jacobson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • For best results, take CoQ10 with a high-fat meal and divide large doses throughout the day to improve absorption.
    — Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of meal
Noun
  • The sight had activated an ancient and superstitious circuit in my brain that insisted the sun simply shouldn't look this way.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But weeks after the largest IPO in history, Musk talked more about the moon during SpaceX’s first earnings call, which investors say is a strategic threshold that will likely be crossed before SpaceX can fully set its sights on Mars.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sight
Noun
  • The team must improve the fabrication process, scale up the laser power, and determine whether the ceramic waveguides can maintain their optical performance under much higher loads.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The rocket planes tested reaction-control systems for maneuvering where the air was too thin for normal aerodynamic controls, while gathering data on heating, stability, structural loads, human performance and piloting techniques during reentry.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of loads
Verb
  • Skip a formal meal in favor of easy-to-grab snacks that won’t interfere too much with puzzle pieces.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Other kids can, too, without their parents interfering on Facebook groups.
    — Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of interfere
Noun
  • National Treasure 3 has been long discussed but remained in development hell for almost two full decades.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
  • For six years and five seasons, Netflix’s treasure-hunting drama Outer Banks has put its North Carolina teens through absolute hell just to keep viewers hooked.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hell
Noun
  • The pecan fall flavor trend is one of the biggest storylines on café and grocery menus this autumn, joining maple, apple and a few surprise flavors that are pushing pumpkin spice out of the spotlight.
    — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
  • There will also be menu items inspired by pop culture icons such as the Simpsons and Hello Kitty, including a strawberry cheesecake sundae topped with a chocolate bow, sold from the Studio Scoops dessert stand.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of menu
Noun
  • And some of the film’s most impressive frights take place in the dentist’s chair, veering into serious body-horror territory.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • After a couple of rounds of throwing up and an evaluation by the doctor, Coop is okay, but the whole thing puts a fright into the crew, and especially into Joy.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Definition of fright

Phrases Containing mess

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mesomorphic
mess
message
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Cite this Entry

“Mess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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