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
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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
Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
This genius device marries a mop and a vacuum to clean wet or dry messes on hard floors, including vinyl.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The fee for cleaning up vomit or other messes left behind by passengers would go up from $50 to $100.
—Chris Tye, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
With their gentle adhesive and easy-to-use design, lint rollers can tackle a surprising range of small household messes.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
Beyond monitoring, this sleek unit prioritizes a clean home environment with an automatic waste-packing system that instantly seals away messes and odors.
—Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
By addressing each of these messes individually, refreshing your home should become much less intimidating, Davis says.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 1 Apr. 2026
The mop pads feature hundreds of scrubbing strips that can absorb even the most stubborn messes, while the cleaning solution has a fresh scent that lingers for hours.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
For tougher messes, a commercial product like an oven cleaner might be best.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
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
Somebody does something terrible and messes it up.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
Think an air purifier to freshen your space, a sleek cordless vacuum for tackling daily messes, and a plush cooling blanket for better sleep.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
This genius device marries a mop and a vacuum to clean wet or dry messes on hard floors, including vinyl.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The fee for cleaning up vomit or other messes left behind by passengers would go up from $50 to $100.
—Chris Tye, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
With their gentle adhesive and easy-to-use design, lint rollers can tackle a surprising range of small household messes.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
Beyond monitoring, this sleek unit prioritizes a clean home environment with an automatic waste-packing system that instantly seals away messes and odors.
—Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
By addressing each of these messes individually, refreshing your home should become much less intimidating, Davis says.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 1 Apr. 2026
The mop pads feature hundreds of scrubbing strips that can absorb even the most stubborn messes, while the cleaning solution has a fresh scent that lingers for hours.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
For tougher messes, a commercial product like an oven cleaner might be best.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
Somebody does something terrible and messes it up.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
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
-
Once constructed, the sleeping cabin program will provide wrap-around services, meals and case management services to residents with the goal of transitioning them into permanent housing.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The actors ate boxed meals, and the Chinese crew surprised them with a large vanilla cake.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Peacock / Peacock Ellerup said the horrors of Heuermann’s reign of terror continue to dominate her waking and sleeping hours.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Having witnessed the horrors of Nazi Germany, many older Stasi workers saw the East German state as the answer to creating a just and equitable society.—
Lauren Cassidy,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During construction, this plate is embedded into the concrete foundation to distribute design loads to the civil structure while ensuring the alignment of the plant’s mechanical systems.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Einride's proprietary optimization software, Saga AI, is also being used to manage EV execution of select Amazon loads, including charging planning.—
Eric Rosenbaum,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, the real world always interferes.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
-
If Washington overtly interferes in European elections or takes the dramatic step of annexing Greenland, the postwar alliance framework, already strained, could fracture.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
6 Jan. 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
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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
-
The hotel can also arrange babysitting services, and kids are catered for in restaurants with special menus.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
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Competition demanded eye-catching enticements, even if the menus traded in the sort of sameness that equated to comfort.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most of the city sights are within easy walking distance—I’d recommend the Museum of Decorative Arts for interiors as beautiful as a Fabergé egg.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
And in the past, if not as much now, other sights and sounds in the working life of a farm would provide a familiar rhythm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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