messy

American  

[mes-ee] / ˈmɛs i /

adjective

messier, messiest

1. characterized by a dirty, untidy, or disordered condition.

   a messy room.

2. causing a mess.

   a messy recipe; messy work.

3. embarrassing, difficult, or unpleasant.

   a messy political situation.

4. characterized by moral or psychological confusion.

---

messy British  

/ ˈmɛsɪ /

adjective

1. dirty, confused, or untidy

---

Other Word Forms

• messily adverb
• messiness noun

Etymology

Origin of messy

First recorded in 1835–45; mess + -y ¹

Example Sentences

It charged lower fees than some rivals and allowed clients to avoid the messy tax-filing requirements of traditional private funds.

From The Wall Street Journal

Five years later, that million-square-foot plant is mostly empty and losing money, a casualty of America’s messy breakup with electric vehicles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Getting their money back is going to be a slow, messy fight, and some business owners are running out of time.

From The Wall Street Journal

A quick peace will likely lead to a messy aftermath and tricky negotiations between Iran, the U.S.,

From Barron's

Even in the best-case scenario, a refund program of such scale is going to be messy and slow.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• chaotic
• confused
• sloppy