as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
having a messy room is virtually de rigueur for a college student
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Recent Examples of messy
But he’s had his share of troubles, including an eight-month prison stint in 2010 on a weapon charge, a series of seizures that required hospitalization and messy, public battles with his record label.
—
Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 3 June 2025
Cream Corn Shucking corn is one of the messiest kitchen tasks there is, nevertheless, Southerners persist, because cream corn is one of the most blissful summer dishes.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
The movies were messy, and didn’t seem interested in building toward an overarching plan.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 31 May 2025
Bring Her Back is still a messy endeavor, even with what feels like a newfound discipline, not to mention a superior grasp of pacing and catch-release tension, happening behind the camera.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 3 June 2025
Cream Corn Shucking corn is one of the messiest kitchen tasks there is, nevertheless, Southerners persist, because cream corn is one of the most blissful summer dishes.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
The movies were messy, and didn’t seem interested in building toward an overarching plan.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 31 May 2025
Bring Her Back is still a messy endeavor, even with what feels like a newfound discipline, not to mention a superior grasp of pacing and catch-release tension, happening behind the camera.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messy
Adjective
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Residents say the chaotic clashes between federal immigration authorities and protesters on Saturday left them shaken.—
Nathan Solis,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
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One of the most prolific voice actors in the business, Baker has made a career out of bringing animals, creatures, and the occasional chaotic alien to life.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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There were loud boos at half-time, a smattering in the closing minutes and a few more at the final whistle as England played without any real intensity, were sloppy in possession and struggled to break down a team more than happy to sit everyone behind the ball.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
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Both players were sloppy in the first set, conceding 21 break-point chances and making 48 unforced errors between them, with Sabalenka making 32 yet still winning the set.—
Jerome Pugmire,
Chicago Tribune,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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The Justice Department similarly told the Supreme Court that some lower courts are confused about how to evaluate multiple IQ tests under Supreme Court rules for what counts as cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
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It’s become the subject of much conversation at Variety, and Erickson is similarly confused.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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The law specifically spells out heating problems, pest infestations and filthy conditions as among the issues that could require a court’s intervention.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
30 May 2025
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Detectives have criminally charged the owner of nearly 50 Belgian Malinois dogs that were found trapped together in a cramped, filthy Queens apartment, police said Wednesday.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messy. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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