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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of messy
Meanwhile, the bride, who typically lets her medium brown mane fly free, pulled her back into a messy ponytail on Thursday night.
—
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 27 June 2025
And don’t forget to make your cleanup a breeze with this Eufy robot vacuum that’s $230 off for Prime members — the self-emptying machine uses smart technology to detect messy areas and does the cleaning for you.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 27 June 2025
This is ultimately about making sense of messy, real-world data.
—Steve Taplin, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Take it from me, a writer who tests sneakers for a living: The best shoe racks, shelves, and other storage options instantly add order to a chaotic closet or messy mudroom.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 27 June 2025
And don’t forget to make your cleanup a breeze with this Eufy robot vacuum that’s $230 off for Prime members — the self-emptying machine uses smart technology to detect messy areas and does the cleaning for you.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 27 June 2025
This is ultimately about making sense of messy, real-world data.
—Steve Taplin, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Take it from me, a writer who tests sneakers for a living: The best shoe racks, shelves, and other storage options instantly add order to a chaotic closet or messy mudroom.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messy
Adjective
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In the chaotic final stretch of the vote-a-rama, GOP leaders zeroed in on Murkowski, working to address her concerns about the bill’s financial effect on Alaska.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
1 July 2025
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What surprised me the most Despite a chaotic global economy, brand spending reductions and a cautious outlook on growth, the spending and cash was flowing, flowing, flowing.—
David Doty,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Driving Challenges tackle rock gardens, blind drop-offs, and water crossings where sloppy throttle work comes at a cost.—
Shelby Knick,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Thus far, the Wind Down delivers with its clean lines, deep cushions, and just-right balance of softness and structure that is far from sloppy—even with her young child is known to practice high dives and a somersaults or two.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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The text, translated from French, is presented partly in comics-style word bubbles, and the illustrations of confused, anxious, and increasingly exasperated animals tell a great story in any language.—
Caroline Carlson
June 30,
Literary Hub,
30 June 2025
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College admission often feels like a similar face-off between families, leaving them confused, concerned, and conjecturing.—
Brennan Barnard,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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The room was filthy, prescription bottles around the room, one bed with no sheets.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
27 June 2025
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Photograph: Chris Null As anyone who’s ever stuck a cotton swab in there knows, your ear canal is a filthy, disgusting place.—
Christopher Null,
Wired News,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messy. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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