messed 1 of 2

adjective

as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness came home to find a messed basement with his tools scattered about

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

messed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of mess
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 messed
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
The May 23 rainout in New York that messed with their vibe. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2026 Rocky was not to be messed with. — CBS News, 18 June 2026 What is a home, if not something to be messed with? — Joseph Trinidad, Longreads, 16 June 2026 That crash really messed me up. — Michael Hollett, SPIN, 14 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed
  1. messy
  2. interfered
  3. chaotic
  4. snooped
  5. confused
  6. poked
  7. littered
  8. sloppy
Adjective
  • Rather, a messy conflict oscillating between bouts of strikes and periods of relative calm beckons, while mediators look for new avenues to revive negotiations.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • This is an ideal arrangement for handling bulky or messy supplies for projects, or for letting maintenance personnel into the home to work on the mechanical systems.
    — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
Definition of messy
Verb
  • Evans avoided a charging Breakker with a backflip and tagged Dragon Lee, who was rolling until Paul interfered, allowing Breakker to catch Lee in midair with a powerslam.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • One area where the government interfered rather aggressively in the economy concerned the rates and tariffs the railroads charged.
    — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 1 July 2026
Definition of interfered
Adjective
  • If Spain keep cool, then Argentina run hot; a warm-blooded, emotional, often chaotic side where performances swing wildly within games, never mind from one match to the next.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • In the chaotic main event, Cody Rhodes defeated Gunther by DQ when Sami Zayn interfered, escalating tensions ahead of Saturday's tag match.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of chaotic
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
Definition of snooped
Adjective
  • Other borrowers are confused over the Biden administration’s failed loan forgiveness effort.
    — Nicky Forster, Fortune, 20 July 2026
  • The Doomsday trailer, however, is light on plot and heavy on guys looking across rooms at each other and nodding or looking slightly confused.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 July 2026
Definition of confused
Verb
  • It’s now understood that Russia in 2016 poked the election systems in all 50 states to check what protections were in place and accessed—but did not change—some very local registration rosters in Florida and Illinois.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 17 July 2026
  • The teen said Jones poked his head through the doorway, then returned to the room and continued firing before leaving the apartment.
    — Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Definition of poked
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
Definition of littered
Adjective
  • No one likes the sloppy tailoring of Octavius’s open-back suit, but Law loves the jacket.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • This thick, brownish concoction, a kind of hot dog chili, is sloppy, packs some heat, and the fiery punch to the taste buds can be a surprise to the uninitiated.
    — USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 15 July 2026
Definition of sloppy

Browse Nearby Words

mess around
messed
messed around
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Cite this Entry

“Messed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of messed for Spanish Speakers

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