messy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈme-sē How to pronounce messy (audio)
messier; messiest
Synonyms of messynext
1
a
: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy
a messy room
b
: likely to create a mess
a messy task/hobby
messy paint
2
: lacking neatness or precision : careless, slovenly
messy thinking
3
: extremely unpleasant or trying
messy lawsuits
a messy divorce
messily
ˈme-sə-lē How to pronounce messy (audio)
adverb
messiness
ˈme-sē-nəs How to pronounce messy (audio)
noun

messiness

2 of 2

noun

mess·​i·​ness ˈmesēnə̇s How to pronounce messiness (audio)
-sin-
plural -es
: the quality or state of being messy
there is a certain messiness in the analysis in that he is forced from the start to assume multiple values—A. A. Hill

Synonyms of messy

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of messy in a Sentence

Adjective Painting a room can be messy work. Some kinds of glue are messier than others. a delicious but messy sandwich
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Long summer weekends are meant for messy hair, time by the pool, sleeping in, and of course, sale shopping. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 4 July 2026 Many real texts from family members are short, rushed and a little messy. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 Let’s respect and appreciate nature in all its messy, sometimes stinky beauty at the cove. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2026 High temperatures inside a car, even when no one is in it, can lead to some dangerous or messy surprises. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for messy

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of messy was in 1627

Rhymes for messy

See All Rhymes for messy

Browse Nearby Words

mess with someone's mind/head
messy
Mesta
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/messy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

messy

adjective
ˈmes-ē How to pronounce messy (audio)
messier; messiest
1
: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy
2
: extremely unpleasant or trying
messy lawsuits
messily
ˈmes-ə-lē How to pronounce messy (audio)
adverb
messiness
ˈmes-ē-nəs How to pronounce messy (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on messy

Nglish: Translation of messy for Spanish Speakers

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