hugger-mugger

adjective

Definition of hugger-muggernext
1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness a hugger-mugger presentation of the facts of the case that left everyone confused

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others a tale of hugger-mugger doings and international espionage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugger-mugger
  1. messy
  2. clandestine
  3. chaotic
  4. undercover
  5. covert
  6. filthy
  7. underground
  8. private
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of messy
Adjective
  • She's Helen, an agent passing on tips from high up in the Prime Minister's office to a clandestine agency (her loving husband happens to be Britain's defense minister).
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Through clandestine operations and cyberattacks, the country sabotaged key Iranian nuclear facilities.
    Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • Well, outside of the chaotic final seconds where, with Washington clinging to a 7-point lead, a game official’s error stopped the clock, leaving the Saints with time to spike the ball, call a play and complete a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Foster Moreau as time expired.
    Ben Standig, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
  • More recently, at a time that feels similarly tumultuous and chaotic, Colonial Williamsburg and the Jane Austen House Museum have drawn a new wave of interest by teaming up with esteemed design brands to bring archival textiles, wallpapers, and paint colors to new life.
    Cornelia Powers, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • The canard that the Jan. 6 riot was actually an FBI setup and was driven on by undercover agents has been circulating since the days after the attack.
    Will Carless, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
  • There were no undercover FBI agents on the National Mall on Jan. 6, 2021, as then-President Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol, according to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General, rebutting a conspiracy theory surrounding the day’s events.
    Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • But all of that changed starting in 2017, when Mr. Trump became president amid the F.B.I. investigation into Russia’s covert attempt to manipulate the 2016 election and the nature of the ties between his campaign and Moscow.
    Charlie Savage, New York Times, 15 Dec. 2024
  • The indictment shows that the FBI unraveled some of the covert schemes and identified specific perpetrators.
    Michael Kan, PCMAG, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • They were packed in the ships’ holds in filthy conditions reminiscent of their initial arrival in North America, their prospects of freedom largely unchanged by the war.
    Kinsey Gidick, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Don't let a little plumbing snafu make your dishwasher filthy.
    Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Definition of filthy
Adjective
  • The trial was moved from Jerusalem for undisclosed security reasons and convened in an underground courtroom.
    Reuters, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
  • My list reflects how the mainstream and underground rap landscapes feel more disconnected than ever, which is why of my 27 rap album picks, some will and some won’t crossover with Pitchfork’s Albums of the Year list.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of underground
Adjective
  • The Humphreys family sold a 25% stake in the business to the Carlyle Group, a $447 billion (assets under management) private equity firm, for an undisclosed sum in 2019.
    Jemima McEvoy, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
  • African American freshmen enrollment has notably decreased by 16.9% at highly selective public and private nonprofit four-year schools.
    Janae Bowens, Baltimore Sun, 14 Dec. 2024
Definition of private
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near hugger-mugger

hugged

hugger-mugger

hugging

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Cite this Entry

“Hugger-mugger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugger-mugger. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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