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Definitions

mess

[mes] / mɛs /
NOUN
disorder, litter
Synonyms
STRONGEST
chaos clutter confusion debris disarray jumble mayhem shambles turmoil wreck wreckage
STRONG
botch combination compound dirtiness discombobulation disorganization eyesore fright hash hodgepodge mishmash monstrosity salmagundi sight untidiness
WEAK
every which way
Antonyms
STRONGEST
harmony neatness order organization system
WEAK
tidiness
NOUN
difficulty, predicament
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dilemma imbroglio muddle plight
STRONG
fix jam mix up perplexity pickle stew
Antonyms
STRONG
boon ease
WEAK
benefit solution

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The production feels like a jumble, and the casting doesn’t help sort out the mess.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Mr. Starmer owes voters a clearer explanation of how the Mandelson mess happened.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Hume, 56, from Leeds, said the waiting had been "awful, just a mess".

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Since the start of the Iran war, the conventional wisdom has been that the whole thing is a hot mess.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

“This time stuff can really mess with your mind. Honestly, to me it was just like an hour ago. Maybe an hour and a half.”

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix