1
as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order
the bachelor party had left the house in a total mess
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2
as in meal
food eaten or prepared for eating at one time
a mess of oatmeal
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3
4
as in loads
a considerable amount
an unexpected Super Bowl loss that unleashed a whole mess of finger-pointing and second-guessing
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as in to interfere
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
please don't mess with me while I'm trying to concentrate
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of mess
Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 26 Nov. 2024
The long battery life and strong suction are big time-savers because the vacuum quickly picks up messes without needing time to recharge.
—Cai Cramer, People.com, 23 Nov. 2024
Emma Soren, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2024
So Damien really let Drew take care of that part, and Drew, who has a martial arts background, would constantly tell me to mess it up.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mess 
Noun
Nearly 20 years old, Elf on the Shelf has gained traction in recent years as parents post extreme displays on social media − from elves getting stuck in the kitchen blender to making a mess in the bathroom with shaving cream.
—Verb
This feels like a confirmation that Ellie was partly to blame for messing the laundry up before, even if unintentionally.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess
Noun
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Many planetary shifts and changes are causing havoc not just in the sky but also in our personal lives.Lisa Stardust, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024
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Dangerous snow and ice have already piled up in parts of the Northeast, causing havoc on roads and roofs to cave in.Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Fans can expect features around holiday gift guides, holiday food trends, comfy holiday outfits and holiday party meals, to name a few.Dave Quinn, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024
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Its tables served everyone in Detroit, from the city’s first Black mayor to its drag queens to Jewish families seeking Christmas meals.Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Kurzel ends on a note of vigilance, the target in sight, the work just beginning.Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
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The resultant climax is actually real here — there’s no condensed milk substitute in sight — but Mitchell’s explicit moment of self-love isn’t just included for shock value.David Opie, IndieWire, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
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One of my personal favorite characters is Liz, Jimmy and Alice’s interfering neighbor.Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
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In South Africa, armed gangs steal copper in bulk to sell to recyclers, occasionally killing those who interfere.Vince Beiser, TIME, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Small figures enjoying a lesbian orgy are embroidered onto the canvas, as if to remind viewers that when the outside world is hell, the body can offer private pleasure.Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 28 Nov. 2024
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Early on in Season Two there is a wedding, a celebration the sisters deserve after two years of hell.Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Barbecue chicken is back on the menu, without the frostbite.Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024
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Foodies on a budget might instead head to Los Olivos for the happy hour menu at Bar Le Cote — an order of peel-and-eat shrimp ($12) and a side of fries ($4) makes a magical lunch in what is one of my favorite dining rooms in the area.Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Michael Dougherty’s masterful Halloween triptych tells three sinister stories about the inhabitants of a small town (including Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, and Leslie Bibb) who encounter a variety of frights on All Hallow’s Eve.EW.com, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
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As Halloween approaches, the air crackles with excitement and while some dive into traditional frights — vampires, ghosts and ghouls — one Phoenix resident is taking a different approach: a tribute to the pop icon herself, Taylor Swift.Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Holiday deals: Shop this season’s top products and sales curated by our editors.Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024
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Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones Another stellar deal that should be on your radar this week?Isabel Garcia, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
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Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings
Thesaurus Entries Near mess
Cite this Entry
“Mess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
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