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.

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messy British  

/ ˈmɛsɪ /

adjective

1. dirty, confused, or untidy

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Other Word Forms

• messily adverb
• messiness noun

Etymology

Origin of messy

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

Example Sentences

The shows include meandering political and philosophical debates, set against the messy domestic lives of a group of 19th-century Russian intellectuals.

From The Wall Street Journal

Failing to plan discussions can get messy, which is why parents sometimes avoid the conversations.

From The Wall Street Journal

“These bands were messy, loud, indie, real and somehow still innovative,” Frank adds of the 30th anniversary show, which is being touted as a Vol.

From Los Angeles Times

“This has been a messy couple of weeks, and this just adds to the obfuscation and lack of clarity—mistrusting everything that comes out of all countries.”

From The Wall Street Journal

In his 12-hour documentary for PBS, Burns digs into our nation’s bloody, messy and triumphant founding by chronicling more than the “boldfaced names we all know,” as he told the Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• chaotic
• confused
• sloppy