messes 1 of 2

plural of mess
1
2
3
as in horrors
something unpleasant to look at the car was a mess after the accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in loads
a considerable amount an unexpected Super Bowl loss that unleashed a whole mess of finger-pointing and second-guessing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

messes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of mess

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of messes
Noun
Run it over hard floors and carpets to suck up debris, then convert it into a handheld vacuum to tackle above-floor messes. Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026 In the busiest area of the house, your toilet may need daily attention to clean stains and messes. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026 Typically, PAs are putting in 60-hour workweeks, and their duties can include everything from running errands to cleaning up messes to managing the general public when filming takes place in a location and impedes foot or car traffic. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 The messes are bigger, and Joe’s mop and bucket just won’t cut it. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026 Perfect for stashing in lunch boxes, the convenient squeezable pouches help keep messes to a minimum. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026 The organization, which is responsible for cleaning up the messes after superhero battles, has something that Jean wants locked inside a vault. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026 Make sure to do this over the sink or outside to prevent messes! Nicole Harris, Parents, 18 July 2026 According to Knoll, this tool alone may remove up to 90% of messes. Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026
Verb
Ships, like airplanes, are designed with fluid dynamics in mind, and biofoul seriously messes that up. David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 June 2026 From pet hair to crumbs, this Shark handheld cordless vacuum cleaner can tackle messes large and small, thanks to strong suction and a self-cleaning brush that resists pet hair accumulation. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026 Like that series, this movie messes with your mind by taking full advantage of creepy backroom spaces. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 May 2026 When Kristi tells her this place messes with your mind, Mari tells her this is different. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 But pollen also messes with sleep, ups the risk of sinus infections, causes people to miss school and work, and can pose more serious dangers. Keerti Gopal, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026 This rug can stand up to all your pets’ messes with its durable fibers that are easy to spot-clean. Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026 The latter may be tied to iron deficiency from irregular periods, plus the drop in estrogen, which messes with the dopamine activity that regulates muscle control. Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Mar. 2026 Each has a meltdown worthy of a telenovela, messes with the crime scene and hours later the police are called. Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messes
Noun
  • Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.
    Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.
    Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Across residence halls, the regular rate to rent a single room at Sacramento State — not including meals — is about $1,600 per month under a nine-month agreement that includes winter break.
    Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Some dogs may also seem less enthusiastic about meals if their food does not sit well with them.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Arthur Miller’s enduring impact rivals Shakespeare’s, with a consistently socially conscious body of work that challenged power structures and society’s complicity during his time and still reaches modern audiences with the horrors of today.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026
  • But in between the jump scares and supernatural horrors is a story of motherhood and confronting the past.
    Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Instead, Hongqi said the solar roof could help supply lower-voltage electrical loads, including air conditioning, refrigerators and the vehicle’s sentry or monitoring systems.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Together, Jaybush, Brad Chambers, and the American Heavy Moving team figured out a route through the city that avoided street trees, tight turns, and roads that run above old, fragile sewer pipes, which aren’t rated for heavy loads.
    Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But as China’s 2018 detention of two Canadian citizens after Canada arrested a Huawei executive showed, the party readily interferes in the legal system when important interests are at stake.
    Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Here’s when to watch and how to catch the best views before bright moonlight interferes.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • An episode of septicemia, with its hells and paradises, its nightmares and hallucinations, transforms Borges into a story writer.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Avici hell is the lowest and most terrible level of the eight hot hells of Buddhism, where those who’ve committed serious crimes (like parricide) must face constant suffering.
    Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • The pecan fall flavor trend is one of the biggest storylines on café and grocery menus this autumn, joining maple, apple and a few surprise flavors that are pushing pumpkin spice out of the spotlight.
    Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Young adults are just getting choosier about when a drink is actually worth it, and the ripple effects are showing up in surveys, menus and social feeds.
    Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • But weeks after the largest IPO in history, Musk talked more about the moon during SpaceX’s first earnings call, which investors say is a strategic threshold that will likely be crossed before SpaceX can fully set its sights on Mars.
    Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • And Freddie had his sights set on becoming a CPA and taking over his dad’s business.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Messes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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