as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
the quilt was a higgledy-piggledy patchwork of odd-shaped fabric scraps, each of which held a fond memory for the family
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in topsy-turvy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of higgledy-piggledy
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
The oft wild, higgledy-piggledy marketing of so many strains, preparations and products has lead to an erosion of meaning for the customer base.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
Instead of obsessing over the latest higgledy-piggledy, do something useful.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024
Go local in Tokyo Courtesy of Trunk Hotels Hidden in the higgledy-piggledy lanes of Tokyo’s Kagurazaka district (also known as ‘Little Kyoto’), Trunk(House) helps its guests experience the city in a way few other hotels can.
—Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2023
Adverb
Elsbeth volunteers to stay at his schmancy, higgledy-piggledy Asian-fusion wellness center to continue the investigation.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
The oft wild, higgledy-piggledy marketing of so many strains, preparations and products has lead to an erosion of meaning for the customer base.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
Instead of obsessing over the latest higgledy-piggledy, do something useful.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024
Go local in Tokyo Courtesy of Trunk Hotels Hidden in the higgledy-piggledy lanes of Tokyo’s Kagurazaka district (also known as ‘Little Kyoto’), Trunk(House) helps its guests experience the city in a way few other hotels can.
—Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for higgledy-piggledy
Adjective
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Nearly two months have passed since a trade finalized the messy breakup between Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat, but the ugly ending to their time together will be a popular topic of conversation for the next few days.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2025
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And yet, something about Careless People—beyond the court order, the messy PR spectacle, and Wynn-Williams’s formidable storytelling abilities—feels urgent, even necessary right now.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
Adverb
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Here’s how the topsy-turvy weather will unfold this week: Half a year’s worth of rain could fall in South Texas Up to half a year’s worth of rain will drench parts of South Texas starting late Wednesday as a storm develops in northern Mexico and taps into plentiful Gulf moisture.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
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The quietest in the bunch, she’s often been defined by her dynamic with Gizelle and her topsy-turvy relationship with her husband, Juan Dixon.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, the White House’s on-again, off-again approach to tariffs with our major trading partners is so chaotic, it can barely be called a policy.—
MoneyShow,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
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The result is a topsy-turvy movie that is also spiritually profound in ways that the Marvel and DC franchises don’t dare but that became abstruse and chaotic in Snyder’s many Rebel Moon iterations.—
Armond White,
National Review,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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While older teens might appreciate its message about family and independence, younger kids will likely be more confused than entertained.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
26 Mar. 2025
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Sea lions and dolphins have been observed rigid with seizures, acting dazed and confused.—
Susanne Rust,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Adverb
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Blocks hyperlinks and previews: Protects you from accidentally clicking on hyperlinks or viewing preview images, keeping you safe from malicious websites.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
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The toddler's shooting follows a similar incident in December 2024, when a 2-year-old boy in California died after accidentally being shot by his 7-year-old brother inside a truck with a gun found in the vehicle's glove box.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
16 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Higgledy-piggledy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/higgledy-piggledy. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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