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
The settlement that was announced Monday between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni looked like the end of one of Hollywood’s messiest recent legal fights.
—
Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Like other stories of fractured childhoods, including Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died and Jeannette Walls’s The Glass Castle, Konkle writes in unflinching detail about how her relationship with her parents devolved under the weight of a messy divorce and financial strain.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 May 2026
Someone who’s a little wishy-washy, depending on if the cameras are up, that would definitely be messy Ashley Darby.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 6 May 2026
After a messy few months, Netflix stepped aside and Paramount and WBD unveiled their merger.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for messy
Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Like other stories of fractured childhoods, including Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died and Jeannette Walls’s The Glass Castle, Konkle writes in unflinching detail about how her relationship with her parents devolved under the weight of a messy divorce and financial strain.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 May 2026
Someone who’s a little wishy-washy, depending on if the cameras are up, that would definitely be messy Ashley Darby.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 6 May 2026
After a messy few months, Netflix stepped aside and Paramount and WBD unveiled their merger.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for messy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messy
Adjective
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His earliest mature paintings, often filled with snarling creatures arranged in chaotic formations, started to include monochromatic backgrounds that became a staple in his art.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
11 May 2026
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Alongside the duo’s elevation, the raging crowds for Yeat’s live shows became both electric and chaotic.—
Miki Hellerbach,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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The Marlins were sloppy early, committing two fielding errors (by left fielder Stowers and pitcher Anthony Bender).—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
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Now, that doesn’t excuse Amad’s extremely sloppy pass, straight to Dominik Szoboszlai, who ran through unchecked to score.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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When The Worm’s Cannon Fires Velvet worms are nocturnal hunters that move through leaf litter, rotting logs and other cluttered, low-light environments.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
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The dusty brown scrapbook, long presumed lost but recently unearthed in the back of a cluttered closet, filled in some of the answers.—
John Ficarra,
Washington Post,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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The new districts and their boundaries have even confused candidates and their campaign staffers.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
9 May 2026
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Marna, seemingly confused, asked if the message was meant for her.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
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The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.—
Scarlett Harris,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Tidy Food Storage Containers The same can be said for the food storage containers that can easily become a jumbled mess in the cabinet.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Apr. 2026
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The 49ers’ defensive depth chart isn’t as jumbled after this draft as last year’s, and more impact players could arrive before training camp or the season opener in Australia.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Then downstairs in the filthy little basement, where there's the stone butt carved into the wall, people knew exactly what to do.—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
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Strong supports the closing of Men’s Central Jail and said the department needed to look at medical care, filthy living conditions and a lack of healthy food and clean water.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messy. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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