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

Steam cleaning works best for fresh spills and light messes, making cleanup easier. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026 Typically, PAs are putting in 60-hour workweeks, and their duties can include everything from running errands to cleaning up messes to managing the general public when filming takes place in a location and impedes foot or car traffic. — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 The messes are bigger, and Joe’s mop and bucket just won’t cut it. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026 Perfect for stashing in lunch boxes, the convenient squeezable pouches help keep messes to a minimum. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026 The organization, which is responsible for cleaning up the messes after superhero battles, has something that Jean wants locked inside a vault. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026 Droves of shoppers just bought this over-door organizer that maximizes storage space without taking up a ton of room, and another lot of customers went after this lightweight cordless vacuum that doubles as a handheld for floor-to-ceiling messes. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 Make sure to do this over the sink or outside to prevent messes! — Nicole Harris, Parents, 18 July 2026 According to Knoll, this tool alone may remove up to 90% of messes. — Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 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

The horrors inflicted and the resilience of the Jewish people in the face of denial and cruelty would define the rest of the century.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Most younger people haven’t been taught about the horrors of communism, such as the deliberate starvation of millions of Ukrainian farmers and their families in the early 1930s.

— Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrors

Noun

The type of helicopter that crashed can carry heavy loads and is commonly used in firefighting operations, with the ability to carry a more than 2,000-gallon tank.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
When temperatures exceed 110°F, passenger planes must consider lightening their loads.

— John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of loads

Verb

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

— Julia Gomez, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Definition of interferes

Noun

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
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

Definition of hells

Noun

There’s also a restaurant with outdoor terrace seating that offers seasonal, daily shifting menus of bistro-style cuisine for lunch and more gastronomic fare for dinner.

— Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026
The menus will bring together the elegance of French cuisine with the flavors of California and will be priced at $695 per person, with optional wine pairings.

— Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of menus

Noun

With the world operating at full capacity once more, these ever-popular sights have seen a massive influx of visitors in recent years.

— Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
Eskom, now sitting with surplus energy, has set its sights on data centers as a new source of customers.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 12 Aug. 2026