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 Unlike detergent sheets, liquid detergent requires measuring, which can sometimes lead to over-pouring or messy bottles in the laundry room. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026 Be clear about your availability, budget and intentions before things get messy. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 Let’s respect and appreciate nature in all its messy, sometimes stinky beauty at the cove. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2026 Avoid plastic wrap, which can trap excess moisture and become messy as the tomatoes soften. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 2 July 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
  • Interview with the Vampire’s composer Daniel Hart has taken the audience on a wonderfully chaotic journey through different styles of music in The Vampire Lestat.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • The events surrounding the funeral were chaotic, with eight people killed and hundreds injured, according to a report written by the Associated Press news agency at the time.
    — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • Lime clasts are tiny white chunks of limestone that were previously mistaken for evidence of sloppy mixing.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026
  • The Americans played sloppy and ugly soccer in the first half, and Belgium overwhelmed the home side.
    — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • The overall aesthetic is simplistic and filled with natural light, with a tasteful (never cluttered) array of antiques and more modern furniture pieces interspersed throughout.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • Instead, Slankard emphasizes choosing a lightly cluttered, more manageable space (like the living room) to set yourself up for success.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026
Definition of cluttered
Adjective
  • Many victims feel embarrassed or confused and wait, and that delay is exactly what the scammers are counting on.
    — Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026
  • If anyone becomes hot to the touch, extremely confused or unconscious, get help immediately.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 8 July 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
  • In it, four contestants solve jumbled words and phrases that unscramble right before their eyes; as the tiles unscramble, the clues get easier, and the player buzzing in with the most correct answers earns a shot at the $10,000 grand prize.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 14 July 2026
  • Birkin’s signature unfussy aesthetic translated well to her living environments, which featured a jumbled array of objects of all kinds, layered by years of flea market finds and vintage store visits.
    — Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 1 July 2026
Definition of jumbled
Adjective
  • Dozens of people had spent almost a year living outside, filthy and exhausted, and for what?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • From shabby apartments to art experiments to filthy needles—with echoes of Patti Smith and Rebecca Makkai—Adler conjures an era of sorrow borne by too many, too young.
    — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 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 16 Jul. 2026.

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