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 Ella Rubin’s Annie and Amélie Hoeferle’s Ramona discuss the importance of being messy in a new clip from the coming-of-age series Sterling Point. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 The bipartisan bill was created to help navigate college athletics in this messy time, and out of courtrooms, with numerous eligibility lawsuits filed within the past week alone. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 Girardier explains how Glimpact’s technology, already in use at companies such as Decathlon and Lacoste, is helping large enterprises get a handle on messy, fast-changing supply chain data. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 29 July 2026 The world of Ghost in the Shell is messy, difficult, and very human. — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 29 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
  • The fan-favorite Green secured a career-defining victory, capitalizing on a chaotic finish involving top contenders like Jade Cargill, Tiffany Stratton, and Lash Legend.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • These essentials, and so much more, have completely transformed my chaotic packing system into a seamless one.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • Between snot, sloppy kisses, spit up, poop and grabby little hands, there are plenty of other pathways by which a lactating parent’s body could get information about what antibodies to put on the menu.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 29 July 2026
  • Just barely sloppy enough for the Court of Appeals to conclude that the mere recital that the interests were held in TBE was not enough.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • However, the interface relies heavily on massive, auto-playing video tiles and blocky promotional banners that constantly compete for your attention, making the overall browsing experience a bit too cluttered and chaotic for my liking.
    — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • Tidying up the Bathroom No one wants to wind down for the evening applying skincare in a cluttered bathroom, so spending time to put your products away after using them in the morning is essential, Naor explains.
    — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 25 July 2026
Definition of cluttered
Adjective
  • An experiment with artificial intelligence at the annual Richard Wagner festival in the southeastern German town of Bayreuth drew boos from the audience after producing a staging that appeared to leave some spectators confused.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • An experiment with artificial intelligence at the famed annual Richard Wagner festival in the southeastern German town of Bayreuth drew boos from the audience after producing a staging that appeared to leave some spectators confused.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 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
  • There’s something deeply satisfying about opening your suitcase and immediately finding your skincare instead of digging through a jumbled mess of bottles.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2026
  • The tighter and more jumbled the field, the less likely that a star capable of a runaway will actually produce that outcome.
    — Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of jumbled
Adjective
  • Being outdoors, they’re exposed to all sorts of dust, pollen, dirt, bird droppings, spider webs, leaves, sap, weather, and pollutants carried by the wind, which can leave a filthy coating on your shutters.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Cleaning our planet’s filthy ports could one day get a boost from a creature with a very messy nickname.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 July 2026
Definition of filthy

Browse Nearby Words

mess (with)
messy
met
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messy. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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