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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.

“I am not proud of handling myself badly in a conflict with our previous board that led to a huge mess for the company,” he wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • 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

The only way out of the mess looks to be self-driving cars.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

When Emanuel fell ill in 1988, Emanuel’s son Jim and Jim’s wife Trudy stepped in, untangled the tax mess, and guided the company out of bankruptcy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

“Because I was a mess, Theo,” I explain slowly.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse