as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
having a messy room is virtually de rigueur for a college student
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Recent Examples of messy
To strike the right balance, the next administration must partner with a wider variety of global actors, focus those partnerships more on existential global threats, and accept a more decentralized, messier world that welcomes leadership from many different quarters.
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Anne-Marie Slaughter, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2024
The chili cheese hot dog on a pickle was messy and logistically taxing to eat, as toppings toppled over the sides and juice flowed into the container.
—Annalise Frank, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
This is Meat Carnival, the all-you-can-eat, free-for-all, for people who love meat and don't mind getting messy.
—Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Despite the fixes, messy data in Washoe County’s legacy system made its way into the new system.
—Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for messy 
Anne-Marie Slaughter, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2024
The chili cheese hot dog on a pickle was messy and logistically taxing to eat, as toppings toppled over the sides and juice flowed into the container.
—Annalise Frank, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
This is Meat Carnival, the all-you-can-eat, free-for-all, for people who love meat and don't mind getting messy.
—Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Despite the fixes, messy data in Washoe County’s legacy system made its way into the new system.
—Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for messy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messy
Adjective
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Fleetwood Mac somehow managed to merge their often chaotic and almost operatic personal lives into their own tale in real-time, which then became legend.Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 19 Nov. 2024
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The snippets of him so far are entertainingly chaotic.Emma Soren, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Not rotating cushions can lead to uneven use patterns—especially around the center of chairs or the edges of sofas—which can then make cushions look saggy, sloppy, or worn out.Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 19 Nov. 2024
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Buffalo Bills 30, Indianapolis Colts 20: The Bills overcame an uncharacteristically sloppy performance from Josh Allen to push past the pesky Colts.Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Though a human would probably be able to figure out how to escape from a random room, even a highly mobile robot would get confused and waste time looking for doors in nonsensical places like the floors and ceiling.Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 20 Nov. 2024
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The conversation left her confused and gutted — with dozens of questions that could take more than a year to resolve.Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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These dogs often come from cramped, filthy mills, without sufficient veterinary care, food, water or socialization.Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
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The O’Haras happen to move in next door to him. Frothy and often filthy without being brainless (send thanks across the Atlantic for that good British dialogue), this is escapism done right.Judy Berman, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messy. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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