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
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
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
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
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
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 fact that the President is now signalling a messy retreat has nothing to do with insufficient lethality and everything to do with politics—in particular, the alarm in the global oil markets and the American public’s widespread opposition to the war.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Over beats as blunt, chromatic, and gleefully stupid as a Jeff Koons sculpture, the singer has vied to make hyperpop more garish and alarming by being hornier, messier, and more extreme than her peers.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During the arrest, a large crowd surrounded officers and interfered by yelling profanities and racial slurs, police said.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
March 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
-
With many fans cheering him on, one interfered and led him off course.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While some show up just to hang out, officials say these events are increasingly turning chaotic with fights, property damage, and in some cases arrests.—
Kaley Fedko,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Magnus ran a hand through his disheveled mane of auburn hair, a chaotic halo framing his disbelief.—
Ben Mezrich,
Vanity Fair,
6 Apr. 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
-
With all those numbers flying around, Americans might be understandably confused about when, exactly, they are expected to retire.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the convenience of the one-stop concept, the process is so convoluted that some left frustrated and confused.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wrencher said Russell once tied her to a chair, poked her with a knife, and threatened to burn the house down, the son said.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Both characteristics were on full display when Drasner hit the local airwaves with a television commercial that promoted The News and poked fun at one of its upstart rivals.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
7 Apr. 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
-
This team is inconsistent, sloppy and soft.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Just six of those came in the second half and the Bruins took better care of the ball while running their offense more efficiently, but sloppy play and frustration have flared up despite the Bruins’ veteran leadership.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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