messes 1 of 2

noun

plural of mess
1
as in jumbles
a state in which everything is out of order the bachelor party had left the house in a total mess

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2
as in meals
food eaten or prepared for eating at one time a mess of oatmeal

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3
as in horrors
something unpleasant to look at the car was a mess after the accident

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in loads
a considerable amount an unexpected Super Bowl loss that unleashed a whole mess of finger-pointing and second-guessing

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messes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of mess
as in interferes
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 messes
Noun
Rather than simply detecting physical obstacles, the system distinguishes between different types of messes and household objects to optimize cleaning strategies. — New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026 Some messes don’t respond to a gentle approach, and there are times when cranking the temperature is exactly the right call. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026 An aluminum core helps distribute heat evenly, while drip-free pouring rims help keep messes contained. — Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2026 Plus, Turbo mode handles the toughest of messes like pet accidents and juice spills. — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026 Dog wipes or a damp cloth can handle paws, coats and quick messes without the hassle of a full bath. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 Between the powerful suction, automatic hair detangling, and extra tools for tackling stairs and stubborn messes, there’s plenty here for homes where shedding never seems to clock out. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026 The uptick in quality is largely connected to the box and the multidimensional chaos that peaked with the Jason-pocalypse that ended season one and has now spilled over into new worlds and new messes. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026 Remove Any Stains Laminate countertops do stain if messes are left to sit for too long. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
Address messes immediately, use a cleaning caddy for convenience, and manage paperwork promptly. — Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2026 Ships, like airplanes, are designed with fluid dynamics in mind, and biofoul seriously messes that up. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 June 2026 From pet hair to crumbs, this Shark handheld cordless vacuum cleaner can tackle messes large and small, thanks to strong suction and a self-cleaning brush that resists pet hair accumulation. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026 Like that series, this movie messes with your mind by taking full advantage of creepy backroom spaces. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 May 2026 When Kristi tells her this place messes with your mind, Mari tells her this is different. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 But pollen also messes with sleep, ups the risk of sinus infections, causes people to miss school and work, and can pose more serious dangers. — Keerti Gopal, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026 This rug can stand up to all your pets’ messes with its durable fibers that are easy to spot-clean. — Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026 The latter may be tied to iron deficiency from irregular periods, plus the drop in estrogen, which messes with the dopamine activity that regulates muscle control. — Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messes
  1. jumbles
  2. meals
  3. horrors
  4. loads
  5. interferes
  6. hells
  7. menus
  8. sights
Noun
  • Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.
    — Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.
    — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of jumbles
Noun
  • The restaurant also serves all-American breakfast, lunch and dinner meals like breakfast casseroles and meatloaf.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The 56-year-old has been getting massages and enjoying Hennessy behind bars, while having special meals like pizza and empanadas prepared for him.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of meals
Noun
  • The play is a gently unfolding, calmly delivered tale of the decades of horrors endured by a real-life person named Eddie Jaku.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Rebecca and Verity, which stars Johnson, are also about a new, naïve lover entering the home of a bad man with a wife hidden in his house of horrors.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrors
Noun
  • And some manage the difficult trick of tasting like fall without giving off loads of scented-candle energy.
    — Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • PlusAI uses sand to simulate the loads its trailers must carry to support research and development testing, as carrying the material closely mimics real freight conditions.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of loads
Verb
  • If a person interferes or one step fails, the system can adjust its plan and retry rather than requiring the entire task to be restarted.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But as China’s 2018 detention of two Canadian citizens after Canada arrested a Huawei executive showed, the party readily interferes in the legal system when important interests are at stake.
    — Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of interferes
Noun
  • An episode of septicemia, with its hells and paradises, its nightmares and hallucinations, transforms Borges into a story writer.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Avici hell is the lowest and most terrible level of the eight hot hells of Buddhism, where those who’ve committed serious crimes (like parricide) must face constant suffering.
    — Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Definition of hells
Noun
  • Eco effort The property has taken strides to amp up its sustainability initiatives, which include recycling, supporting the local Hospitality in Action charitable organization, and changing menus based on what is seasonally and locally available.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The crew goes all out for Halloween with their Nightmare on 39th Street pop-up, and both the pop-up and house cocktail menus have received the autumnal treatment.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of menus
Noun
  • This hotel feels upscale while keeping within a reasonable budget—ideal for 30- or 40-something couples looking for chic accommodations and access to the sights, without sacrificing peace and quiet at the end of the night.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Jon Stewart set his sights on AI on the latest episode of The Daily Show, unpacking the threats posed by the technology and Donald Trump‘s mediocre reaction.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of sights

Browse Nearby Words

messengers
messes
messes around
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Cite this Entry

“Messes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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