as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
came home to find a messed basement with his tools scattered about
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in interfered
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 messed
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
His skin looks all messed up and he's hunched over in pain, hearing noises.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
The first week or so of February will be a bit messed up because of bright moonlight.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
Stagner had seen a lot of messed-up things in his life, from explosives in Iraq wounding fellow Marines to the gruesome aftermath of shootings in Brunswick.
—ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
Similarly, Ehrenreich — who has been building back a very interesting and strong career after taking some unfair critical brickbats along the way — is just terrific as this somewhat messed-up local cop.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 May 2026
This mash-up is not a dish to be messed with.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
That idea has led to a rigid view that symphonic pieces aren’t to be messed with.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
But Jefferson found the experience of sitting there while lesser writers messed with his prose unbearable.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
The Giants’ position really, really messed us up in trying to even negotiate with Oakland.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
The Rock Hall just messed this one up.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
Because there are some things that just can't be messed with.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2026
Escarra messed with the torpedoes in 2025, but never committed.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
By making this register the emotional climax of the season, the show leaves us with the impression that John and Carolyn’s relationship was more messed up than fulfilling or loving.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
His skin looks all messed up and he's hunched over in pain, hearing noises.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
The first week or so of February will be a bit messed up because of bright moonlight.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
Stagner had seen a lot of messed-up things in his life, from explosives in Iraq wounding fellow Marines to the gruesome aftermath of shootings in Brunswick.
—ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
Similarly, Ehrenreich — who has been building back a very interesting and strong career after taking some unfair critical brickbats along the way — is just terrific as this somewhat messed-up local cop.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
This man is not to be messed with.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 May 2026
This mash-up is not a dish to be messed with.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
That idea has led to a rigid view that symphonic pieces aren’t to be messed with.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
But Jefferson found the experience of sitting there while lesser writers messed with his prose unbearable.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
The Giants’ position really, really messed us up in trying to even negotiate with Oakland.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
The Rock Hall just messed this one up.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
Because there are some things that just can't be messed with.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2026
Escarra messed with the torpedoes in 2025, but never committed.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed
Adjective
-
When actually the true version of ourselves is kind of messy, chaotic and vulnerable.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
In its equilibrium, a good tomato sandwich is juicy and unctuous and appropriately messy, which is praise all too often reserved for hot sandwiches like cheesesteaks or patty melts.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Bliss made a furious comeback before Michin interfered, leading to a four-woman brawl on the outside.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
-
Police said one man interfered as officers tried to assist the victim and refused to back away, ignoring multiple warnings.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
His distinct sensibility — by turns theatrical, ironic, chaotic, heartfelt — was native to the Internet.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2026
-
The media newsletters and trades have written up transcripts of chaotic meetings and tracked Weiss and new 60 Minutes chief Nick Bilton’s daily movements, while the Times has sent multiple push alerts to millions of readers for stories about the chaos inside CBS.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
While authorities snooped around, the charity’s fundraising expenses declined, dropping from $384,000 in 2016 to $111,000 in 2017.—
Dan Alexander,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Untrustworthy employees There have been cases where employees at security companies snooped through camera feeds.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
After analyzing everything from Substack posts to my group chats, my hottest take is that everyone is simply confused.—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
6 June 2026
-
The man didn’t appear to make contact with any of the players during his few seconds on court, with replays showing Wembanyama smiling and looking confused.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Her long-term partner, Rich Paul, recently poked fun at his lady love's musical prowess while being interviewed on the Glass Half Full with Craig Melvin podcast.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
-
The 14-day relative strength index has also just poked above the 50 level for the first time since late February.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.—
Scarlett Harris,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
San Antonio made nine of its first 11 shots, with the Knicks and their fans frustrated by the referees and the home team’s sloppy play, and led 33-22 after one.—
Brian Mahoney,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Later in 2025 Blanche oversaw the release of documents as mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which drew criticism from Epstein survivors as being slow, sloppy, and incomplete.—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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