MESSED Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

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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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

Why would literally anyone use these messed up AI photos to advertise their restaurant? — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 Tracy Letts plays her perverted husband, while Callum Turner, Jamie Bell, Lukas Gage and Riley Keough star as her very messed up children, and Elle Fanning is Bell’s paramour. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 25 July 2026 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

Had a couple calls in here that messed it up a little bit, but that’s the game. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 27 Sep. 2026 In Argentina, however, the Barras bravas remain a muscular, not-to-be-messed-with presence. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 14 July 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed

Adjective

So far, the adoption of AI in production workflows have been stalled due to legal constraints around ownership, among other things involving messy copyright questions.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026
Four years ago, Pugh’s movie Don’t Worry Darling was the talk of the Venice Film Festival due to rumored behind-the-scenes drama and a messy rollout, including a press conference Pugh missed—allegedly due to a scheduling conflict.

— Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of messy

Verb

But if the plan was to let sleeping dogs lie, Bartiromo interfered by passing along the internal guidance.

— Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Charlotte Flair and Chelsea Green both qualified on television, Green over Kiana James and Flair over Nia Jax by disqualification after Jade Cargill interfered.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of interfered

Adjective

Saturdays on the couch before the widescreen with beer, chicken wings and cheese dip might also be the best way to escape our ugly, chaotic politics.

— Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Researchers at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) have discovered that passing waves through a special class of synthetic media forces them to abandon chaotic scattering entirely.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 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

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

The Mets allowed four earned runs in an exceptionally sloppy third inning, losing a 3-2 lead.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Sep. 2026
But that response, or leadership — a trait teammates and coaches see far more from Herbert than the public — is one of several reasons why the Chargers are supporting their quarterback despite the offense’s sloppy start to the season.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026