as in mess
a state in which everything is out of order
careful planning had eliminated most of the muss that usually accompanies a move to a new house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the wind mussed up my hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 muss
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2021
No other muss or complications.
—Sam MacHkovech, Ars Technica, 8 June 2020
Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024
Pearce, in a magnificent performance, plays him as a kind of citadel—towering yet human-scaled, his immaculate dress and coiffure barely mussed by the occasional burst of temper or spasm of ego.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for muss
Noun
No-fuss, no muss.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2021
No other muss or complications.
—Sam MacHkovech, Ars Technica, 8 June 2020
Verb
This can also cause trouble when doing gram-to-ounce conversions, which require a double-tap: A toggle switch at the device’s base would be more helpful, without mussing up the smooth surface of the cup.
—Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024
Pearce, in a magnificent performance, plays him as a kind of citadel—towering yet human-scaled, his immaculate dress and coiffure barely mussed by the occasional burst of temper or spasm of ego.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for muss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muss
Noun
-
Mona Sunset and Natural Runner Runners are great for hallways and kitchens where messes are inevitable.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2025
-
And, just as quickly, they were derided for their tendency to disintegrate into a mushy mess.—
Hiroko Tabuchi,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
When someone has it, their immune system goes into overdrive, producing more antibodies (or immunoglobulins, hence the name) than necessary that disrupt typical organ function.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Case in point: Heightened uncertainty about the outlook for the economy has disrupted plans for big-name IPOs like fintech firm Klarna and ticketing platform StubHub over the past month.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
It’s said that during the festival, the gates of hell open and ghosts visit earth.—
Gabino Iglesias,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
That a hell ant lived before that in what’s now Brazil means ants were already widely distributed across the planet at an early point in their evolution, the study authors noted.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
No doubt, climate change threatens to muck it all up, disturbing patterns that have existed for centuries.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
28 Apr. 2025
-
This tactic—arresting judges for their courtroom decisions—has disturbing echoes in other countries where judicial independence has been undermined: in Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, in Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Turkey, and in other places where democracy has given way to executive supremacy.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
That doesn’t include further havoc caused during the upcoming rainy season.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Brady Tkachuk is considered an X-factor in this series because of his ability to create havoc in the corners and in front of the net.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Then, around 200 million years ago, Pangaea began splitting apart, a geological breakup that formed the Atlantic Ocean, and eastern North America shuffled toward its current position on the globe.—
Alexandra Witze,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The Phillies can shuffle their rotation with the benefit of two upcoming off days.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Instead, voters themselves are jumbles of competing and sometimes contradictory interests.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Baker also leads the orchestra, which sounds grand — although the sound in the arts center’s Pugh Theater often left musicians, lead singers and chorus all at the same level, with actors speaking over all of it at the same time to create a sonic jumble.—
Matthew J. Palm,
Orlando Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
And when the series takes an occasional serious turn, you'll just be confused.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
-
However, simply getting older doesn’t equate to consistently missing bills or appointments, having a hard time speaking with people, or feeling lost or confused in places that are familiar to you.—
Alisa Hrustic,
SELF,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Muss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muss. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share