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
Relevance
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
Yes, the premise is incredibly messy on several fronts, so don’t expect a happy ending.
—
James Factora, Them., 22 May 2025
Because roster management is going to get messy, even in a best-case scenario.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 May 2025
These are released to Pixels almost immediately, while other OEMs must combine with their own fixes and then run these out across the messy Android ecosystem.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
The dips are wet, messy behemoths of meat, juice and bread.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
James Factora, Them., 22 May 2025
Because roster management is going to get messy, even in a best-case scenario.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 May 2025
These are released to Pixels almost immediately, while other OEMs must combine with their own fixes and then run these out across the messy Android ecosystem.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
The dips are wet, messy behemoths of meat, juice and bread.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for messy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messy
Adjective
-
The 2021 withdrawal was unacceptably chaotic and bloody, the takeover by the Taliban shameful, but that war is now over.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
26 May 2025
-
No dogs will be allowed because Matthews didn’t want dogs’ first experience at the facility to be chaotic and filled with stress.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
Los Alamitos tied the game in the third due to some sloppy defense from the Eagles.—
Michael Huntley,
Oc Register,
23 May 2025
-
José had sent it as a freebie after Akasha complained about sloppy packaging on previous bark orders and threatened to switch to a new source in Peru.—
Andy Greenberg,
Wired News,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Photos showed the group seemingly confused about what was happening during the moment.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
21 May 2025
-
The audio proves otherwise as the recordings show Biden was confused, rambling, and couldn’t even remember when his son Beau died.—
Doug Friednash,
Denver Post,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
After being fired from SNL, Silverman scored a part playing a misunderstood filthy comedy writer on The Larry Sanders Show, Shandling’s classic send-up of the talk-show game.—
Stephen Rodrick,
Rolling Stone,
18 May 2025
-
Who doesn’t rinse out (and ideally wash) a filthy blender filled with milky stuff?—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messy. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share