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
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2026
Microfiber towels make simple yet effective cleaning tools against some of your home’s biggest messes.
—Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
Turtles also need constant water filtration to control messes and odor.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
After picking up after her dog’s shedding fur and food crumbs for years, senior SEO analyst Stewart Savin found that the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder has been one of the best cordless models to tackle these messes and more on hardwoods.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
And much of the international order is an attempt to avert messes, even by letting odious and illegitimate governments stay in power, because messes can be odious too.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Treat any pet messes on the wood floors as soon as possible to prevent liquid from seeping through the wood.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 30 Dec. 2025
Regularly wiping down the racks between the soak-and-scrub processes saves you from the most stubborn and stuck-on messes and reduces odor potential.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2025
Arriving empty-handed, leaving messes behind, being hours late — behaviors like these reflect obliviousness or busyness at best, or selfishness or entitlement at worst.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Giana Levy, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
Use your self-cleaning setting regularly to prevent messes from stacking up and getting out of control.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2026
Microfiber towels make simple yet effective cleaning tools against some of your home’s biggest messes.
—Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
Turtles also need constant water filtration to control messes and odor.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
After picking up after her dog’s shedding fur and food crumbs for years, senior SEO analyst Stewart Savin found that the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder has been one of the best cordless models to tackle these messes and more on hardwoods.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
And much of the international order is an attempt to avert messes, even by letting odious and illegitimate governments stay in power, because messes can be odious too.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Treat any pet messes on the wood floors as soon as possible to prevent liquid from seeping through the wood.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 30 Dec. 2025
Regularly wiping down the racks between the soak-and-scrub processes saves you from the most stubborn and stuck-on messes and reduces odor potential.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2025
Arriving empty-handed, leaving messes behind, being hours late — behaviors like these reflect obliviousness or busyness at best, or selfishness or entitlement at worst.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Verb
Somebody does something terrible and messes it up.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messes
Noun
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The result also spotlights conference championships’ awkward fit in the current system, particularly given the fact that conference expansion has led to jumbles atop each league’s standings.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
7 Dec. 2025
-
Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The 2025 inaugural Tailgate recovery helped give 8,000 meals to people experiencing hunger.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Chefs are leaning into the experiential side with meals that are theatrical, playful and even educational — and often involve dining in multiple settings.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In simple, straightforward prose, Chang describes in new detail the horrors her parents suffered through during China's Cultural Revolution.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The horrors of the 1988 chapter open the door for a plot development that risks coming across as manipulative.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Over time, increase the repetitions using light weights, then gradually progress to heavier loads, Forsyth recommended.—
Allison Forsyth,
Health,
14 Jan. 2026
-
There’s live music, 70+ vendors, a Biz Kidz Market and loads of family-friendly activities to keep the entire family entertained for hours.—
Ave Maria,
Miami Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
This Ministry frequently interferes in employers’ decisions, instigates acts of discrimination by authorities and organizations, brings weight to bear on the organs of justice and even orchestrates propaganda campaigns in the media.—
Jonny Diamond,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
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
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The Des Moines metro’s best dining is defined by places that feel personal — rooms with character, menus with point of view, and teams that show up nightly with consistency and care.—
Susan Stapleton,
Des Moines Register,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The two will continue to evolve their menus together, focusing on seasonality and new inspirations.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These different, yet related, sights are all found within the nearly 30,000-acre expanse of Arenal Volcano National Park in north-central Costa Rica.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The New Jersey native had his sights set on the Gophers at an early age.—
Marielle Mohs,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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