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
Coffee spills, muddy shoes, pet mishaps, and everyday messes don’t have to turn into decorating disasters. — Ethan Stone october 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026 Tackle stubborn messes effortlessly with the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026 Restaurant owners and auteurs have come to rely on her small business, Union Stitch & Design, for customizable aprons that look neat and can withstand the heat and messes of the kitchen. — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026 Of equal significance, both defenses are abject messes right now. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Rather than simply detecting physical obstacles, the system distinguishes between different types of messes and household objects to optimize cleaning strategies. — New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026 Some messes don’t respond to a gentle approach, and there are times when cranking the temperature is exactly the right call. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026 An aluminum core helps distribute heat evenly, while drip-free pouring rims help keep messes contained. — Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2026 Plus, Turbo mode handles the toughest of messes like pet accidents and juice spills. — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
Address messes immediately, use a cleaning caddy for convenience, and manage paperwork promptly. — Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2026 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
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
  • Previous research from the same site suggests that Neanderthals may have soaked and cooked meals of plants and legumes together.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of guessing what's normal, users can build a personal baseline, identify patterns—like digestive changes that coincide with certain meals—and share results with their doctors.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The horrors at Requiem Haunted House, the largest indoor scare attraction in the Treasure Valley, begin as soon as you’re greeted at the door.
    — Hali Smith October 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2026
  • And the potential horrors within are keeping him from opening it.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The deck replacement is necessary because traffic loads on the span have become increasingly heavy, and salt air has eroded bridge materials.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • According to Formlabs, this improves strength, toughness, heat resistance, and resistance to gradual deformation under sustained loads, while producing a harder, less tacky surface.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • If a person interferes or one step fails, the system can adjust its plan and retry rather than requiring the entire task to be restarted.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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
  • Now, 10 years later, through Keys Fisheries, her fish is sold in stores, and lionfish appears on restaurant menus throughout the area—and in doing so, millions of native reef fish have been saved from predation.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • December Come to Sicily for the citrus harvest, when menus abound with an abundance of local varieties.
    — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Big institutions like the Louvre and the Élysée Palace are better avoided; instead, visit some of the city's niche sights and smaller museums.
    — Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The walking haunt leans towards the gory side of horror, so come prepared to witness some grotesque sights, organizers said on Eventbrite.
    — Hali Smith October 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Messes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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