messier; messiest
1
a
: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy
a messy room
b
: likely to create a mess
a messy task/hobby
messy paint
3
: extremely unpleasant or trying
messy lawsuits
a messy divorce
Examples of messy in a Sentence
Painting a room can be messy work.
Some kinds of glue are messier than others.
a delicious but messy sandwich
Recent Examples on the Web
Entrepreneurship or a portfolio of roles feels messier than earning a regular salary because the risk is more visible.
—
Henrik Totterman,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
Many real texts from family members are short, rushed and a little messy.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2026
Long summer weekends are meant for messy hair, time by the pool, sleeping in, and of course, sale shopping.
—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
4 July 2026
High temperatures inside a car, even when no one is in it, can lead to some dangerous or messy surprises.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for messy
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Henrik Totterman,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
Many real texts from family members are short, rushed and a little messy.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2026
Long summer weekends are meant for messy hair, time by the pool, sleeping in, and of course, sale shopping.
—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
4 July 2026
High temperatures inside a car, even when no one is in it, can lead to some dangerous or messy surprises.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for messy
Cite this Entry
“Messy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/messy. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
messy
adjective
messier; messiest
1
: marked by confusion, disorder, or dirt : untidy
2
: extremely unpleasant or trying
messy lawsuits
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