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
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
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
As Nikki, a veteran killing machine, Jovovich is one mother not to be messed with.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Wedding tradition in the South is nothing to be messed with.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
In her fifty-seven years of wandering, nobody had messed with her.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
The internet already messed her up pretty good.
—Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
The internet already messed her up pretty good.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The internet already messed her up pretty good.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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
The models who went all the way were the ones who ceded to Banks’s worldview, who agreed to have their hair dyed and their teeth messed with and their bodies altered.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
As Nikki, a veteran killing machine, Jovovich is one mother not to be messed with.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Wedding tradition in the South is nothing to be messed with.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
In her fifty-seven years of wandering, nobody had messed with her.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
The internet already messed her up pretty good.
—Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
The internet already messed her up pretty good.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The internet already messed her up pretty good.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed
Adjective
-
The piece is also outdoor-safe and easy to care for; simply wipe it down with a dry cloth after a messy project.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Mar. 2026
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The series revolves around three awkward high school sophomores — Steven (Martin), Garrett (Taylor) and Anna (Pruitt) — who stumble through the messy world of teenage romance and identity, learning that sucking at girls is just part of growing up.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To this day, Bezos has never interfered in newsroom decisions, according to interviews with two dozen senior Post journalists over the years.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The match ended in disqualification after Finn Balor interfered.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The attack unfolded in a chaotic scene Lang’s sparsely attended protest Saturday drew a far larger group of counterdemonstrators.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The scene had grown chaotic even before the devices were thrown.—
Jake Offenhartz,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Untrustworthy employees There have been cases where employees at security companies snooped through camera feeds.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Immediately disoriented, confused and dizzy.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Current ride-share insurance minimums already leave many victims undercompensated and confused.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Later in the week, as other analysts poked holes in the Citrini scenario, the market recovered some of its losses.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Second baseman Ethan Mendoza looks like a completely different player, so much so that teammates have poked fun at him in interviews.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
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Cigarette butts are the most littered item on the planet.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Jeans This ‘90s-style denim by Levi’s has a slightly slouchy fit (that doesn’t border on the side of sloppy) with a straight leg.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
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Roads may get a bit sloppy, too, with ponding possible in spots and even some icing far north and west of the city.—
Justin Lewis,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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