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

Tips To Keep Your Stove Grates Clean Longer Clean up spills and messes as soon as the burner and grates have cooled to prevent a buildup of residue. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 July 2026 This might lead you to opt for flooring that shows fewer scuffs, scratches, and messes. — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 12 July 2026 Fortunately, today's kitchen rugs are designed to handle real-life messes while bringing plenty of personality underfoot. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2026 Use the popular Levoit LVAC-300 to clean up messes made on the under-$25 area rug, store away clothes in this six-pack of storage cubes, and keep keys in plain sight with this $8 key holder. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2026 Franklyn Seales played Dexter, Edward's hardworking business partner, who was often left to clean up his impulsive counterpart's messes. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026 Among my favorite finds, there’s a collagen-boosting serum from Medicube, eyelet maxi dress that can be worn to brunch and the office, and a cordless Shark vacuum that makes quick work of pet messes. — Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 In addition to strong suction power and a self-cleaning brushroll, the Shark Matrix Clean uses a precision grid pattern to take multiple passes over messes, ensuring a deep clean on every square inch of your carpets and hardwood floors. — Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026 Best Fourth of July Sale Vacuum Deals Parents know how essential a good vacuum is for cleaning up after toddler messes, dirt tracked in on little cleats, and food graciously flung from the high chair. — Anja Webb, Parents, 1 July 2026

Verb

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 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

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

Her contribution came at a time when one in three local Meals on Wheels America providers have a wait-list, with elderly citizens having to wait an average of four months for meals and services.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 July 2026
There are homemade herbal teas aplenty, and broth for those who get hungry in between meals.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026

Definition of meals

Noun

Many of its founding members had seen the horrors of World War I up close (Breton and several others had served in the French army) and blamed their fathers’ generation for the carnage.

— Susan Rubin Suleiman, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Netflix is releasing a new game show, one that combines the popularity of Squid Game, the timeless charms of the live-action Wonka experience, and the unwanted ubiquity of technofascist horrors beyond our comprehension.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 30 June 2026

Definition of horrors

Noun

Engineering experts said the conversion project is complex and poses many challenges, which include making sure older buildings can safely support new loads and carving up office floors to accommodate residential living.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
More crucially, Illinois’ grid is well-equipped to deliver the large electrical loads needed to process AI and other data.

— Scott Cohn, CNBC, 9 July 2026

Definition of loads

Verb

Here’s when to watch and how to catch the best views before bright moonlight interferes.

— Julia Gomez, USA Today, 1 July 2026
If Damascus interferes in Lebanon, sectarian violence could follow, as the Syrian military presence would likely be interpreted as direct opposition to Hezbollah’s Shiite fighters.

— Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 18 June 2026

Definition of interferes

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

Definition of hells

Noun

There are also children’s menus available at both restaurants and babysitting services available, should parents want the evening off.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
Several microcruises also source food ingredients locally, building seasonal menus around regional produce, which supports farms and fisheries, while reducing food miles.

— Indrabati Lahiri, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of menus

Noun

During an April news conference, Menon said the mission is a critical stepping stone as NASA sets its sights on building a moon base and, eventually, sending people to Mars.

— Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 14 July 2026
For 10 days, the thrilling Artemis II mission commanded the world's attention as four astronauts flew a record 252,756 miles from Earth and saw sights of the moon that no person had ever witnessed with their own eyes.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 14 July 2026