1
as in jumbles
a state in which everything is out of order
the bachelor party had left the house in a total mess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in meals
food eaten or prepared for eating at one time
a mess of oatmeal
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in horrors
something unpleasant to look at
the car was a mess after the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in loads
a considerable amount
an unexpected Super Bowl loss that unleashed a whole mess of finger-pointing and second-guessing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in interferes
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
please don't mess with me while I'm trying to concentrate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of messes
Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
It’s equipped with strong suction to suck up small messes in tricky spots around the house and in the car.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Uber also has a cleaning fee policy in place for messes like vomiting or spills.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Foot traffic, eating, and the little messes of daily life leave the floors in these spaces dirtier than in other areas of the home.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
On the plus side, the surface wipes clean easily, which is a huge win for spills and messes.
—Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
Instead of lugging out an upright vacuum, use it to suck up small messes in tricky spots around the house and in the car.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Jones is terrific as a young woman forced to grow up much too soon, who is running out of patience having to constantly clean up her uncle’s many messes, and McShane pops off the screen in a smaller role as a character whose anger is even less controlled than Robbie’s.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
To quickly eliminate soap scum, water splatters, and other glass messes, apply shaving cream all over the surface.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
Other cuts start as pop songs before crashing into atonal messes and freak rock chaos.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
It’s equipped with strong suction to suck up small messes in tricky spots around the house and in the car.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Uber also has a cleaning fee policy in place for messes like vomiting or spills.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Foot traffic, eating, and the little messes of daily life leave the floors in these spaces dirtier than in other areas of the home.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
On the plus side, the surface wipes clean easily, which is a huge win for spills and messes.
—Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
Instead of lugging out an upright vacuum, use it to suck up small messes in tricky spots around the house and in the car.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Jones is terrific as a young woman forced to grow up much too soon, who is running out of patience having to constantly clean up her uncle’s many messes, and McShane pops off the screen in a smaller role as a character whose anger is even less controlled than Robbie’s.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
To quickly eliminate soap scum, water splatters, and other glass messes, apply shaving cream all over the surface.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messes
Noun
-
This perk allows you to be reimbursed for expenses relating to the delay, like meals, clothing, toiletries and even lodging.—
David McMillin,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Starred chefs prepared personalized meals.—
Erhan Kaya,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
More than a thousand miles away in New Delhi, Mohammad waits for his daughter, powerless to save her for a second time from the horrors faced by their community in Myanmar.—
Esha Mitra,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Hard Rock Stadium is a house of horrors for the Patriots dating back to their dynasty days.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
It’s finished in a beautiful coat of light green and has loads of chrome trim and a black roof.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
12 Sep. 2025
-
There’s a lot of tradesmen, but songwriters… There’s not loads of them.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Bárbara, who can see the guests a few feet away, maintains a neutral expression on her face as Solène demands to be spoken to nicely, at which point Jess interferes and tells them to save it for later.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Elsewhere, Morgan interferes when Elliot admits to not being invited to his classmate’s party.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
All’s well that metal-as-hells well.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Today, numerous kitchen technologies are working to shift that chaos with tools designed specifically to save time, improve efficiency and reduce stress for restaurant workers, such as kiosk menus and self-service ordering and payment systems.—
Jeff Kiesel,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The Airport Authority, which has a say in the pricing of concessions, provided some examples from the menus of The Taco Stand menu and the new Tony Hawk restaurant, Novecientos Grados.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Here are details and maps showing when fall foliage will begin to appear, and how to enjoy the sights this season.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people, including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Use jig and pigs 18 to 25 feet deep along brush piles or main lake points with a gradual slope.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Sep. 2025
-
One makes big plays at big moments, the other piles up a steady stream of little plays that lead to those big plays.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Messes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share