messy

adjective

ˈme-sē How to pronounce messy (audio)
Definition of messynext
as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness having a messy room is virtually de rigueur for a college student

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 messy Egyptology enthusiasts and other visitors stood in a messy single-file line with phone cameras in hand, some with selfie sticks and most with bags under their eyes from waking up so early. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 The mix of guests ranges from trendy couples lounging in dressing gowns on a spa break to outdoorsy types wearing messy boots and young families with grandparents in tow on the hunt for some truly fresh air. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 Ameritex handles spills and messier households Real Simple editors also pointed to the Ameritex Waterproof Cover for Furniture as a lower-cost option for messier rooms. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026 Both businesses within Iqvia are about finding patterns in messy data and speeding up workflows. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for messy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messy
  1. chaotic
  2. sloppy
  3. cluttered
  4. confused
  5. littered
  6. jumbled
  7. filthy
Adjective
  • Week 7 of the 2026 college football season will go down as one of the most chaotic ever, with five Top 10 teams suffering losses, and the newest AP Top 25 Poll reflects the craziness that unfolded.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • While the weather painted a chaotic picture, stories from Malibu residents were of neighbors coming together as a community in a way only the specter of disaster could prompt.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • The YouTube stuff, by comparison, feels sloppy, in multiple senses of the word.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The company built a team largely made up of former journalists and social media experts who have an eye for recognizing generic, sloppy content.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • With all the new tech coming across my desk lately, my workspace has become quite cluttered.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Evonitz held Kara hostage in his cluttered apartment for 18 hours.
    — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of cluttered
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of confused thinking about this at campuses across the country.
    — Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The long road ahead After being charged with murder on Friday, Francis, dressed in a white Tyvek suit and appearing confused at court, said nothing as she was ordered held without bail for her daughter’s death.
    — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of confused
Adjective
  • In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.
    — Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Definition of littered
Adjective
  • But their fervor ironically winds up being counterproductive, yielding a jumbled tonal mess that feels deadly serious one moment and like parody the next.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Entering the season, two quarterbacks sit in the top tier, followed by a drop-off to the second and third tiers — both of which are crowded and jumbled.
    — Dane Brugler, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of jumbled
Adjective
  • There are several different subtypes of New York City Restaurant, from the humble old-timers (Katz’s, Nom Wah) to the temples of filthy lucre (Bemelmans, Rao’s).
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The invention’s intent was to cut down on distracted driving — in addition to the frustration of digging around under filthy car seats.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of filthy

Browse Nearby Words

mess (with)
messy
met
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Cite this Entry

“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messy. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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