hugger-mugger

adjective

Definition of hugger-muggernext
1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness a hugger-mugger presentation of the facts of the case that left everyone confused

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others a tale of hugger-mugger doings and international espionage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugger-mugger
  1. messy
  2. clandestine
  3. chaotic
  4. undercover
  5. sloppy
  6. covert
  7. littered
  8. underground
Adjective
  • Where there might be a nugget of truth (water-holding, adhesion, seed spacing), there are simpler, proven, and less messy alternatives.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The game commenced with four unanswered scores from Jenks and sloppy play from Southlake Carroll that included a handful of early penalties, messy substitutions and a lack of rhythm.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of messy
Adjective
  • Or that the Apollo moon landing in 1969 was staged, the video shot on some clandestine movie set.
    — Susan Page, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The clandestine manner in which LG monitors were installing ad-pushing software onto third-party devices, however, remains seriously concerning.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • To cap the most chaotic week of his managerial career, Joe Espada celebrated his 51st birthday on Sunday.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Today marks five years since the chaotic, deadly ending of America's nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • And in 1963, Steinem gained national attention for going undercover at one of Hugh Hefner's nightclubs.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The rest of the officers at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office who were part of setting this undercover operation up and didn’t listen owe the officer an apology.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • But a 17-point win masked how off-kilter and sloppy the offense looked against the overmatched Huskies.
    — John Talty, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Vaughn Grissom drove in four runs, rookie Walbert Ureña pitched seven strong innings and the Los Angeles Angels ended a seven-game losing streak with a 10-1 victory over the sloppy New York Yankees on Monday night.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • Over the last decade, covert tests have revealed vulnerabilities at security checkpoints, with one in 2015 showing a nearly 96% failure rate at screening fake explosives.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The film imagines a colorful, family-friendly realm concealed just under the surface of video games themselves, populated by a covert guild of guardians tasked with keeping each title operating and preserving every player’s journey.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.
    — Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.
    — Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Definition of littered
Adjective
  • The United States conducted its first-ever underground nuclear test, dubbed the Rainier test, at the Nevada Test Site.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Premee Mohamed, Wickhills (Tor Books, September 8) A fantastical spy thriller set on the streets and underground passages of a magical city?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of underground
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.

Browse Nearby Words

hugged
hugger-mugger
hugging
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Cite this Entry

“Hugger-mugger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugger-mugger. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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