MESSINESS Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

messiness

noun

Definition of messiness

as in mess

a state in which everything is out of order a professional chef would not tolerate such messiness in the kitchen

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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 messiness Sick of its messiness, it was removed, opening up the landscape for a new perennial bed. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 July 2026 The portrait of Musk that emerges here is that of a childish, terminally online man who desires to eliminate the messiness of contemporary life for a more rigid order. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 13 July 2026 Leave some messiness in your garden and leave the leaves, as decaying leaves are great habitat for fireflies. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 July 2026 Either way, Angela’s slip is definitely showing in terms of behind-the-scenes messiness (seriously, enough is enough with the cheating stories! — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026 Alcock’s scrappy characterization, tempering Kara’s jaded toughness and chaotic messiness with an increasingly strong sense of justice, would seem an ideal fit to continue in a similar vein. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2026 Training data for robots is slow, physical, and expensive, often requiring human teleoperation or imperfect simulations that struggle with real-world messiness. — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 That grunge and that messiness. — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 18 June 2026 Plus, a party bus with purpose, the messiness of paying influencers, Jenn Harris’ restaurant of the summer and big James Beard wins. — General Manager, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for messiness

Noun

Stormwater can also wash away gravel and mulch, leaving you with a mess to clean up after every rain.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
Swap a mess of tiny tea candles for a larger scented candle styled on a tray with a pair of decorative matches.

— Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 18 July 2026

Definition of mess

Noun

Hundreds of homes and businesses in Queens were without power Sunday after a sudden storm caused havoc across the city a day earlier, flooding major highways and leaving motorists stranded.

— John Annese, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
Bernthal’s biggest scenes are flashbacks to the Trojan War, as Menelaus and his army wreak bloody havoc on Troy that haunts Odysseus for many years after.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 16 July 2026

Definition of havoc

Noun

The Cook County Department of Public Health is working to counteract vaccine misinformation, myths and confusion regarding vaccines as part of its efforts to increase vaccination rates.

— Francine Knowles, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
There’s been a lot of excitement, and a lot of questions, and a lot of confusion.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2026

Definition of confusion

Noun

In Harrenhal, Aemond is plagued by nightmares of his (not) dead brother dragging him to hell.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 20 July 2026
After being a key to the victory of the Trojan War, Greek hero Odysseus (Matt Damon) goes to hell and back trying to get home to his wife (Anne Hathaway) and son (Tom Holland) in Nolan's brutal yet introspective adaptation of Homer's epic poem.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 July 2026

Definition of hell

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“Messiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messiness. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of messiness

noun

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