1
as in jumbles
a state in which everything is out of order
the bachelor party had left the house in a total mess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in meals
food eaten or prepared for eating at one time
a mess of oatmeal
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in horrors
something unpleasant to look at
the car was a mess after the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of messes
New Atlas, 26 May 2026
Tackling these chores on a regular basis can prevent messes from getting out of hand and reduce allergens.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 24 May 2026
Customize the cycle for each specific load, such as pots and pans, delicate china, and caked-on messes.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
Regular cleaning prevents odors, messes, and keeps your kitchen organized.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
Spills and messes always seem to happen at the worst possible time.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
An employee who had so far been exemplary, cleaning the messes that her family made.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Plus, don’t miss out on home must-haves like a handheld vacuum that tackles small messes with ease and a plush bathroom rug that’s only $9 right now.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
The multipurpose surface cleaner provides a powerful clean to tackle messes in a stylish, reusable bottle.
—ABC News, 4 May 2026
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
Each has a meltdown worthy of a telenovela, messes with the crime scene and hours later the police are called.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
In Lost Lambs, the internet sabotages a family in much the same way that Napoleon messes things up for the Bezukhovs in Tolstoy’s War and Peace.
—Gideon Leek, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
Family road trips also create constant exposure to food crumbs, drink spills, pet hair, and everyday messes that are difficult to avoid on long drives.
—New Atlas, 26 May 2026
Tackling these chores on a regular basis can prevent messes from getting out of hand and reduce allergens.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 24 May 2026
Customize the cycle for each specific load, such as pots and pans, delicate china, and caked-on messes.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
Regular cleaning prevents odors, messes, and keeps your kitchen organized.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
Spills and messes always seem to happen at the worst possible time.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
An employee who had so far been exemplary, cleaning the messes that her family made.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Plus, don’t miss out on home must-haves like a handheld vacuum that tackles small messes with ease and a plush bathroom rug that’s only $9 right now.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
The multipurpose surface cleaner provides a powerful clean to tackle messes in a stylish, reusable bottle.
—ABC News, 4 May 2026
Verb
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
Each has a meltdown worthy of a telenovela, messes with the crime scene and hours later the police are called.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
In Lost Lambs, the internet sabotages a family in much the same way that Napoleon messes things up for the Bezukhovs in Tolstoy’s War and Peace.
—Gideon Leek, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messes
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
Noun
-
Those deductible expenses generally include reasonable costs of moving household goods and personal effects, plus travel and lodging for the move, but not meals.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Reviews — written after multiple meals at a restaurant, all of which are paid for by The Times — remain the cornerstone of our work and keep us thinking about what might appear next on our annual 101 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles guide.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Upon entering, the pair discover the horrors of bloody intestines, fingernails and a human heart boiling on the stove.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
28 May 2026
-
Their childhood, for all its horrors, felt at times like the easy part.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
This means that a small engine can handle immense power loads without generating wasteful heat.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
-
Romance, steamy chemistry, and loads of pettiness — these are the staples of Love Island USA.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
This act interferes greatly with local departments of planning and development for erroneous climate protocols enacted by Ronald Regan.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
This is where Earth’s atmosphere interferes least.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Smith stays largely mum on the news of the day, be that Kirk’s killing, or ICE raids, or whatever hells await in the coming weeks.—
Sam Kestenbaum,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
-
The protagonist's youth doesn't defang the story, as Silent Hill f wastes no time thrusting Hinako and her friends into their personal hells.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Meals center around the parrillero terrace, where an in-house chef prepares daily rotating menus built around catch of the day and the freshest local produce.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The digital driver display can appear overly busy in its default layout, although simpler configurations are available through the settings menus.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
But with the deadline for sending referendums to the August ballot passing this month, Higgins has now set her sights on November.—
Tess Riski
May 28,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
-
The film is a surrealist heist-comedy starring Keke Palmer as Corvette, the leader of a crew of professional shoplifters who set their sights on a ruthless fashion mogul played by Demi Moore.—
Olivia Shalhoup,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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