MESS OVER Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

mess over

verb

Definition of mess over

slang

as in to abuse

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon her no-good boyfriend has been messing her over for years

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess over

Verb

After teenage boys first reported that they had been abused in 2005, Church of the Resurrection conducted an internal investigation that court records show was inconclusive.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Acton’s campaign on Tuesday posted a video of her brother, who supported her backstory about living in a tent and being abused.

— Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of abuse

Verb

Across the street, other workers are clearing the rubble from the old Highmark Stadium as it is taken apart piece by piece.

— Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Among the arrays that are set to be taken apart is the Coastal Endurance Array, which lies off the coasts of Oregon and Washington State.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 2 June 2026

Definition of take apart

Verb

As recess is one of the most active places for bullying to take place, Rhea wanted to counteract that trend.

— Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026
Washington should project vision and leadership to its friends, not jarring uncertainty and bullying transactionalism.

— Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of bully

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.

Browse Nearby Words

messmates

mess over

mess (up)

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“Mess over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20over. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of mess over

verb

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