as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
the office is still topsy-turvy even though we moved in months ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in haphazard
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of topsy-turvy
Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 4 Dec. 2025
The absurdity of his vision matches our topsy-turvy reality.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Also starring Roslyn Ruff and Mickey Sumner (as a female Aufidius), the play’s exploration of leadership, honor and the dynamics of power is as relevant as ever in today’s topsy-turvy political landscape.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for topsy-turvy
Adjective
While the plot ebbs and flows, the central desire to know more, to reach further than anyone has before you, is very relatable—Kuang is a master at work building a topsy-turvy chessboard for readers to play with.
—Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 4 Dec. 2025
The absurdity of his vision matches our topsy-turvy reality.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Adverb
Its messiness is also in step with 2020s hyperpop—scruffy, topsy-turvy electronic music that seeks to harness, not counteract, modern overstimulation.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Also starring Roslyn Ruff and Mickey Sumner (as a female Aufidius), the play’s exploration of leadership, honor and the dynamics of power is as relevant as ever in today’s topsy-turvy political landscape.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for topsy-turvy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for topsy-turvy
Adjective
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Set in 1953 after the titular dictator’s passing, the film revels in the chaotic, messy, bumbling power struggle that ensues among figures like Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi) and Georgy Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor).—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
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The venue was the sprawling Serena Hotel, an oasis within what is already a bubble provided by Islamabad, a leafy city of broad boulevards that feels detached from the rest of Pakistan, an often chaotic country of 240 million people.—
Saeed Shah,
Time,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Such implications could have a chilling effect on the reporting of such crimes by partners and spouses locked into messy and tumultuous relationships.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Despite going through a messy divorce, the former couple remain good friends.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Avoid planting grass seed when a downpour is in the forecast, as the rain might scatter your seed haphazardly.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Clubs do not offer such deals haphazardly.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For obvious reasons, the name (and how to pronounce it) immediately confused fans of the couple.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
-
However, his revelations added additional layers of complications rather than actually pointing towards who was responsible for Floyd's death, leaving detectives Donoghue Homer (Richard Jenkins) and Jodie Plumb (Joy Sunday) even more confused.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Details of who found them and where were also vague, with one popular story featuring a hungry cow riotously disturbing the earth to reveal a ceramic container.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
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Blurring the line between performance and personal crisis, comedian Maria Bamford turns her mental health journey into material that’s riotously funny and ultimately inspiring.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
Adverb
-
Windshield after windshield smashed in Linden Surveillance video from a Linden apartment complex shows a person in the early hours of Monday morning drive up, get out of his vehicle and throw bricks through the windshields of parked cars, chucking them aimlessly from multiple launch points.—
Allen Devlin,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
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Scrolling your phone aimlessly can feel awkward.—
Lauren Schuster,
Sacbee.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Nico Hoerner hit a leadoff homer and then delivered an RBI double during a five-run fifth inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the sloppy Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Still, plushy, squelchy chairs don’t have to look sloppy either.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Topsy-turvy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/topsy-turvy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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