Messy: meaning, definitions and examples

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messy

 

[ ˈmɛsi ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

room

Untidy or dirty; not neat or organized.

Synonyms

cluttered, disorganized, untidy

Examples of usage

  • The room was messy, with clothes strewn all over the floor.
  • She always leaves her desk messy with papers and books everywhere.
Context #2 | Adjective

hair

Not neat or well-groomed; unkempt.

Synonyms

disheveled, tangled, untidy

Examples of usage

  • Her hair was messy, as if she had just woken up.
  • He ran his fingers through his messy hair.
Context #3 | Adjective

situation

Confused or difficult to deal with; disorderly.

Synonyms

chaotic, confused, disorderly

Examples of usage

  • The messy situation required careful handling.
  • The negotiations became messy with conflicting demands.

Translations

Translations of the word "messy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 bagunçado

🇮🇳 अव्यवस्थित

🇩🇪 unordentlich

🇮🇩 berantakan

🇺🇦 безладний

🇵🇱 nieporządny

🇯🇵 散らかった (ちらかった)

🇫🇷 désordonné

🇪🇸 desordenado

🇹🇷 dağınık

🇰🇷 어수선한

🇸🇦 فوضوي

🇨🇿 nepořádný

🇸🇰 neporiadny

🇨🇳 凌乱的 (língluàn de)

🇸🇮 neurejen

🇮🇸 óskipulagt

🇰🇿 ретсіз

🇬🇪 არეულ-დარეული

🇦🇿 qarışıq

🇲🇽 desordenado

Word origin

The word 'messy' originated in the late 19th century, derived from the noun 'mess' which comes from Old French 'mes' meaning 'portion of food'. Over time, 'messy' evolved to describe things that are untidy, disorganized, or confused. It has since become a common adjective used to describe various situations, appearances, and conditions.

See also: mess, messenger, messily, messiness.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,279, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.