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 Rémy Mojito 1 oz fresh lime juice 0.5 oz simple syrup
1 oz sparkling water
Handful of fresh mint
Add all ingredients except sparkling water to shaker tin, shake with a small handful of pebbled ice (this doesn’t break the mint leaves as much, which can look a bit messy.
—
Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Not because that is anybody’s intention but because our little, squalling selves are born to messy people.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 9 July 2025
Ryan Lochte and Kayla Rae Reid’s divorce is getting messier and messier.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 8 July 2025
In a mirror selfie that appeared to be taken in a gym, the Baby Driver actress posed in a sports bra and leggings, her newly dark hair piled into a messy bun atop her head.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Not because that is anybody’s intention but because our little, squalling selves are born to messy people.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 9 July 2025
Ryan Lochte and Kayla Rae Reid’s divorce is getting messier and messier.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 8 July 2025
In a mirror selfie that appeared to be taken in a gym, the Baby Driver actress posed in a sports bra and leggings, her newly dark hair piled into a messy bun atop her head.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messy
Adjective
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The enforcement sparked a chaotic scene at the cannabis farms, the USA TODAY Network in California reported.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
14 July 2025
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In 1945, a rare Stradivarius violin was stolen from a Berlin bank during the chaotic end of World War II.—
Asia London Palomba,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Some of it is good, but a lot of it is sloppy, outdated or full of vulnerabilities.—
Jimmie Lee,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Hein was sloppy, lazy and showed a lack of impartiality in dealing with him, Hicks said in his filing.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Everyone was very confused about whether the watch’s band could be resized because only one kind of wrist was shown in the commercial.—
Seth Reiss,
New Yorker,
10 July 2025
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The home appeared on Zillow Gone Wild, a Facebook page that highlights unique houses on the real estate market, and people were a little confused about the interior style.—
TJ Macias
July 10,
Miami Herald,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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These words are so filthy, even 40 years later, that Tribune editors will only allow an edited version to be included here.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
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The girl is so filthy that just one look at her gets across the idea that this lifestyle is repellent.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messy. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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