MESSES Synonyms: 314 Similar and Opposite Words

messes 1 of 2

noun

plural of mess

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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as in meals

food eaten or prepared for eating at one time a mess of oatmeal

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as in horrors

something unpleasant to look at the car was a mess after the accident

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visions

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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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

Tackle small messes right away to prevent buildup and make deep-cleaning days easier. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 31 Oct. 2026 Others have used it to remove oily stains from their toddlers like crayon marks on carpet, and one reviewer says it’s saved many of their clothes from being ruined in a household with unavoidable messes from both kids and pets. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026 Covers shield upholstery from coffee spills, food stains, pet accidents and everyday messes. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026 Coffee spills, muddy shoes, pet mishaps, and everyday messes don’t have to turn into decorating disasters. — Ethan Stone october 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026 Tackle stubborn messes effortlessly with the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026 Restaurant owners and auteurs have come to rely on her small business, Union Stitch & Design, for customizable aprons that look neat and can withstand the heat and messes of the kitchen. — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026 Shop More Fashion Deals Home and Household Essentials Between kids, pets, and everyday messes, there’s always something left on my floors. — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2026 Of equal significance, both defenses are abject messes right now. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 2 Oct. 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

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

Beyond meals, the Center for Wine & Culinary Arts is a highlight—guests can enjoy complimentary daily tastings to learn about Rhode Island food and wine.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
But a restaurant’s most obvious form of comfort is its food, and Roth creates that through bringing meals to Marigolds that his mom would make him, in sandwich form.

— Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of meals

Noun

Though dreams are tangled up in our desires, Freud’s royal road to the unconscious is not unlike the road in Lost Highway, and other similar Möbius strip horrors, such as the purgatorial Dead End.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
In recent years, the British monarchy has adopted a more conciliatory tone when addressing the horrors of slavery.

— Rupert Neate, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of horrors

Noun

Cranes lift 200-ton loads at mountain bridge site The R4300-200 has a maximum lifting capacity of 200 metric tons (220 US tons) and an 80-meter jib (262 feet).

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Its remaining civil rights workers have described untenable case loads and pressure to dismiss complaints.

— Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 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

A lot of places are putting lasagna on menus, specifically the Italian style with bechamel, parmesan, and a meat ragu.

— John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Organizers will provide desserts and appetizers throughout the evening, and the brewery’s food and drink menus will be available for purchases.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of menus

Noun

That was the case in 2019 when the department set its sights on Organ Pipe.

— Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2026
After mudslides in Big Sur caused a three-year closure, some of the most scenic sections of the Pacific Coast Highway have been reopened, giving travelers the opportunity to take in the inspirational sights of California’s coastline.

— Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026