messy

adjective

ˈme-sē 

messier; messiest

1

: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy

a messy room

2

: lacking neatness or precision : careless, slovenly

messy thinking

3

: extremely unpleasant or trying

messy lawsuits

a messy divorce

messily

ˈme-sə-lē 

adverb

messiness

ˈme-sē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• chaotic
• cluttered
• confused
• disarranged
• disarrayed
• disheveled
• dishevelled
• disordered
• disorderly
• higgledy-piggledy
• hugger-mugger
• jumbled
• littered
• messed
• muddled
• mussed
• mussy
• pell-mell
• rumpled
• sloppy
• topsy-turvy
• tousled
• tumbled
• unkempt
• untidy
• upside-down

Examples of messy in a Sentence

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

Their divorce has been messy, with both exes calling each other out via Instagram. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

The decision worked smoothly for the AAC in Year 1 of this new setup, but the potential for a messy schedule remains in the future. —Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 13 Dec. 2024

New cultural identities emerge as part of a messy, joyful process. —Kendra Nordin Beato, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024

Lauren Goode: Total Nextdoor vibes or stuff about relationship drama, really messy situations. —Lauren Goode, WIRED, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

messy

adjective

ˈmes-ē 

messier; messiest

1

: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy

2

: extremely unpleasant or trying

messy lawsuits

messily

ˈmes-ə-lē 

adverb

messiness

ˈmes-ē-nəs 

noun