as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
the frantic search left the room upside-down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 upside-down
Just keep in mind that upside-down pineapples have certain connotations (IYKYK).
—
Rebecca Norris,
InStyle,
5 July 2026
The group marched to a drum beat outside Union Station, the city's main train station, and carried flags that included an upside-down American flag and a Confederate flag in a video shared on social media by WTOP reporter Mitchell Miller.
—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
In this upside-down world there’d be a pig like Ted Waters, who, one blue winter night on a concrete highway outside Marjah, had his leg blown off by a bomb disguised as a guardrail.
—
Will MacKin,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
Some popular items include their chipotle breakfast sandwich and upside-down peach cobbler latte.
—
Emily Harter,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
As Evans posed for the broadcast camera, he was captured making an upside-down ‘OK’ sign with his right hand.
—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
21 June 2026
Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the toys have their world and playtime turned upside-down when a smart tablet named Lilypad disrupts everything.
—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
19 June 2026
The renter’s credit is part of a larger but stalled push to rebalance Connecticut’s upside-down tax system, one the state’s own analysts conclude excessively burdens the poor and middle class.
—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
15 June 2026
Fascism lives in the upside-down; professional gaslighting features heavily amongst its weaponry, along with the blinking philistinism of the soulless.
—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 June 2026
Rebecca Norris,
InStyle,
5 July 2026
The group marched to a drum beat outside Union Station, the city's main train station, and carried flags that included an upside-down American flag and a Confederate flag in a video shared on social media by WTOP reporter Mitchell Miller.
—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
In this upside-down world there’d be a pig like Ted Waters, who, one blue winter night on a concrete highway outside Marjah, had his leg blown off by a bomb disguised as a guardrail.
—
Will MacKin,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
Some popular items include their chipotle breakfast sandwich and upside-down peach cobbler latte.
—
Emily Harter,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
As Evans posed for the broadcast camera, he was captured making an upside-down ‘OK’ sign with his right hand.
—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
21 June 2026
Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the toys have their world and playtime turned upside-down when a smart tablet named Lilypad disrupts everything.
—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
19 June 2026
The renter’s credit is part of a larger but stalled push to rebalance Connecticut’s upside-down tax system, one the state’s own analysts conclude excessively burdens the poor and middle class.
—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
15 June 2026
Fascism lives in the upside-down; professional gaslighting features heavily amongst its weaponry, along with the blinking philistinism of the soulless.
—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upside-down
Adjective
-
Entrepreneurship or a portfolio of roles feels messier than earning a regular salary because the risk is more visible.
-
Many real texts from family members are short, rushed and a little messy.
Adjective
-
Interview with the Vampire’s composer Daniel Hart has taken the audience on a wonderfully chaotic journey through different styles of music in The Vampire Lestat.
-
The events surrounding the funeral were chaotic, with eight people killed and hundreds injured, according to a report written by the Associated Press news agency at the time.
Adjective
-
In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.
-
The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.
Adjective
-
Keke Palmer was confused about why she wasn't asked to emcee the event.
-
The competing corridors have left them confused, forcing them to navigate not only the treacherous waters – facing threats from sea mines, aerial drones, and Revolutionary Guard patrol boats – but also the complex political currents across the strait.
Adjective
-
England looked disjointed and sloppy for much of the first half, while Congo was bright and creative with the ball and held England at bay defensively.
-
The regulars were middle-aged men who routinely drank five or six cocktails after work and were only rarely sloppy.
Adjective
-
Birkin’s signature unfussy aesthetic translated well to her living environments, which featured a jumbled array of objects of all kinds, layered by years of flea market finds and vintage store visits.
-
The shore now alternated between open sandy or rocky beaches and jumbled boulders ranging from a foot to many feet in diameter.
Adjective
-
Margera tried to soothe the pain by submerging his fresh brand in a tub of filthy farm water, which resulted in a life-threatening staph infection that landed him in the hospital.
-
Outside the Lineage warehouse Thursday morning, the smell of heavy smoke was already being replaced with that of spoiling food and filthy water.
Adjective
-
The sink and toilet are out of the way, and the shower user enjoys a cleaner, less cluttered space more like a dedicated shower room.
-
Nobody wants a cluttered living room—however, maintaining a streamlined space can take a bit of mindfulness.
Cite this Entry
“Upside-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upside-down. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
