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
show current usage.
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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
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
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
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 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed
Adjective
-
But even chips are absent from the formal agenda because the politics are too messy.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
-
Just to make things even messier and more over-plotted, Sylvie notices a light on for five days straight in an upper-floor apartment, reporting to the cops her concern that the old man who lives there might have died.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Kam Hendrix interfered in the match, but NXT North American champion Myles Borne came in and chased him off.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Summa’s 1982 snapshot of a stage diver at a Circle Jerks concert in Reseda is among the best examples of punk’s live and chaotic energy.—
Siran Babayan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
Instead, Tuesday‘s finale is shaping up to be one of the state’s most chaotic primary elections in decades.—
Greg Bluestein,
AJC.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Untrustworthy employees There have been cases where employees at security companies snooped through camera feeds.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Indeed, Mary Hartman was a confused—and confusing—protagonist for a country in the midst of second-wave feminism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Lawsuits have been filed in response and some, including Cassidy and Fleming, warn the move is leaving voters confused.—
Gaby Vinick,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Many curious passersby poked their heads inside, wondering if the restaurant was serving food again.—
Iris Kwok
May 12,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Holding her breath, Ana poked her head into the coop.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 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
-
These Amazon finds are made for petite travelers who want to stay comfortable without defaulting to sloppy sweats.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
-
Spurs seemed to run out of energy and their passing became sloppy.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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