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
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
The Angry Mama Microwave Steam Cleaner is thoughtfully designed to effortlessly remove stubborn messes without scrubbing or scraping for hours on end.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 1 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
Don’t let clutter and little messes get the best of your weekend.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2026
For tougher messes, a commercial product like an oven cleaner might be best.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
Rebecca Sheppard specializes in untangling other people’s financial messes.
—Joel Jacobs, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
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
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
The Angry Mama Microwave Steam Cleaner is thoughtfully designed to effortlessly remove stubborn messes without scrubbing or scraping for hours on end.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 1 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
Don’t let clutter and little messes get the best of your weekend.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2026
For tougher messes, a commercial product like an oven cleaner might be best.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
Rebecca Sheppard specializes in untangling other people’s financial messes.
—Joel Jacobs, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
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Transform everyday meals into flavorful creations with Gustus Vitae seasoning sets.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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In the kitchen, as well as using vegetables grown in the garden or nearby, the hotel has adopted Meat Free Monday to encourage guests to order vegetarian meals at least once a week.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Arthur is living for the likes, his suburban house of horrors happening to bear similarities to the anonymous McMansions preferred by so many influencers.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
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The Broadway power couple first met while surviving the horrors of the underworld in Hadestown before traveling to Weimar Republic Germany in Cabaret.—
Carey Purcell,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Once transported to the canyon, the modular components were assembled and put into place using one of the world’s largest cable cranes (cranes that move loads while suspended on cables), which spanned the gorge between the two towers.—
Aman Kumar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 Apr. 2026
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According to Archer Western, HDR’s design engineers failed to properly account for wind loads — including hurricane winds — in an initial, partial design for the signature bridge arches that the contractor used to calculate construction costs and time for its bid.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 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
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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
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The new offerings will appear on menus starting in May, while the fast-food giant will also introduce energy drinks later this year, a spokesperson told CBS News.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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While some restaurants have brought back paper menus for accessibility many have stuck with QR systems, often expanding them into full ordering and payment platforms.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During their trailblazing journey, the four of them traveled farther from Earth than any spacefarer in human history ever has while seeing sights of the moon's far side that no one else has ever experienced.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
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In this subscriber exclusive, Matt Lavietes, Daniel Arkin and Adam Reiss share the sights, sounds and mood inside the Suffolk County Courthouse.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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