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Synonyms

messy

American  
[mes-ee] / ˈmɛs i /

adjective

messier, messiest

  1. characterized by a dirty, untidy, or disordered condition.

    a messy room.

  2. causing a mess.

    a messy recipe; messy work.

  3. embarrassing, difficult, or unpleasant.

    a messy political situation.

  4. characterized by moral or psychological confusion.

messy British  
/ ˈmɛsɪ /

adjective

  1. dirty, confused, or untidy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • messily adverb
  • messiness noun

Etymology

Origin of messy

First recorded in 1835–45; mess + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That means the messy, bizarre field trips remain a rite of passage for young professionals in an otherwise deskbound field.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

FDEs took data from messy spreadsheets, legacy systems and handwritten memos to create a digital replica of an enterprise.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

Described by singer Bono as a "noisy, messy, unreasonably colourful" record, it is expected later this year.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

A quick peace will likely lead to a messy aftermath and tricky negotiations between Iran, the U.S.,

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Usually the last day of school was messy, noisy, and busy—the kind of day that could easily be too much for Chicken.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.