messy
gb/mˈɛsi/ us/mˈɛsi/
A2
English
~ 9900
rendetlen, rendezetlen, kaotikus, kusza, zűrös, csúnya, véres, piszkos, drámázós, kavarós
A2
1
rendetlen
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] is messy / make [something] messy
The kids left the living room so messy after the party.
A gyerekek a buli után nagy rendetlenséget hagytak a nappaliban.
Your desk is too messy; I can't find the report.
Túl rendetlen az íróasztalod; nem találom a jelentést.
I woke up late and my hair was really messy.
Please don't make the kitchen messy when you cook.
His handwriting is so messy that I can barely read it.
Learner examples
My room is very messy, so I need to clean it.
Nagyon rendetlen a szobám, ezért rendet kell raknom.
Her hair is messy because of the wind.
A széltől kócos lett a haja.
The table is messy after dinner.
He always keeps his desk messy at work.
The floor is messy with toys.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only "dirty" when they mean both dirty and not well arranged. Use "messy" when something is not neat (things everywhere), and use "dirty" when something needs to be washed or cleaned from stains. A room can be messy but not very dirty if it is full of things but not covered in dust or food.
Meaning
untidy or dirty in appearance
Collocations
messy room
|messy house
|messy desk
|messy hair
|messy clothes
|leave [something] messy
Synonyms
untidy (Focuses more on things not being arranged neatly, less on dirt itself.)
|
disorganized (Stresses lack of order more than physical dirt or stains.)
Antonyms
tidy (Emphasizes neat, orderly placement of things, the opposite of a messy space.)
Themes
daily life
|home
|appearance
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not clean or not neat; things are in the wrong place or there is dirt everywhere.
Untidy or dirty in a way that things are not in their proper place or are covered with unwanted material.
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[something] is messy / a messy [process/plan/text]
The project became very messy because no one was in charge.
A projekt nagyon kaotikussá vált, mert senki sem irányította.
His argument is interesting, but the essay is messy and hard to follow.
Érdekes az érvelése, de az esszé kusza és nehezen követhető.
The new law is written in a messy way, leaving many questions open.
Their filing system is so messy that documents often get lost.
The database is messy and full of duplicated records.
Learner examples
My notes are messy, so I cannot study well.
Rendezetlenek a jegyzeteim, ezért nem tudok rendesen tanulni.
The plan is messy and people are confused.
A terv kusza, és mindenki össze van zavarodva.
Her report is messy and has no clear structure.
The meeting was messy and there was no order.
Our schedule is messy this week.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only "confusing" or "bad" to talk about unclear writing or plans. "Messy" is more specific: it suggests that the structure or organization is poor. Also, avoid saying a "messy problem" when you simply mean "difficult"; "messy" suggests it is difficult because details are not organized or clear.
Meaning
disorganized or poorly structured
Collocations
messy process
|messy schedule
|messy plan
|messy writing
|messy code
|messy data
Synonyms
chaotic (Stronger than “messy”, suggests complete or near-complete lack of order.)
|
confusing (Focuses more on the feeling for the reader or user, not on the structure itself.)
Antonyms
organized (Highlights that parts are ordered and planned, the opposite of a messy structure.)
Themes
work
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not well organized or clear, so it is hard to understand or use.
Badly organized, unclear, or difficult to follow because the parts are not arranged in a logical or careful way.
B2
3
Usage pattern:
a messy [breakup/divorce/situation]
They went through a very messy divorce that lasted three years.
Nagyon zűrös váláson mentek keresztül, ami három évig tartott.
I don't want this to turn into a messy argument in front of the kids.
Nem akarom, hogy ez csúnya vitává fajuljon a gyerekek előtt.
Office romances can get messy when things go wrong.
The inheritance led to a messy dispute among the siblings.
Their breakup was messy, with lots of public fighting on social media.
Learner examples
Their breakup was very messy and they do not talk now.
Nagyon zűrös volt a szakításuk, és most már nem beszélnek egymással.
The divorce is messy because they fight about money.
Zűrös a válásuk, mert a pénz miatt veszekednek.
It became a messy argument and everyone felt bad.
A relationship with your boss can be messy.
The family problem is messy and full of strong feelings.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "messy" here means only "not clear". In this sense, it also includes strong negative emotions, conflict, or drama between people. For neutral complexity without emotional problems, "complicated" or "complex" is usually better.
Meaning
emotionally difficult and full of conflict
Collocations
messy breakup
|messy divorce
|messy relationship
|messy family situation
|messy custody battle
|messy political fight
Synonyms
complicated (More general and neutral; "messy" suggests emotional pain and conflict, not just complexity.)
|
ugly (Informal; often used like "messy" to describe situations with unpleasant conflict.)
Antonyms
amicable (Used especially for breakups or divorces where people stay friendly, the opposite of a messy separation.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|legal
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Hard and painful because there is a lot of emotion, anger, or problems between people.
Emotionally difficult, full of conflict, or involving many painful or complicated personal issues.
B2
4
Usage pattern:
a messy [job/accident/operation]
The car crash was messy, and there was blood on the road.
Csúnya, véres karambol volt, és vér borította az utat.
It was a messy operation, but the surgeon managed to save her.
Sok vérrel járt a műtét, de a sebésznek sikerült megmentenie.
Cleaning the blocked drain turned into a very messy job.
The crime scene was messy, with broken glass and blood everywhere.
Butchering animals can be a messy business.
Learner examples
The accident was messy, with blood on the street.
Csúnya, véres baleset volt, és vér volt az utcán.
Removing the old pipes was a messy job.
A régi csövek eltávolítása piszkos munka volt.
Surgery can be messy if there is a lot of blood.
Cleaning the toilet is a messy task.
Fixing the engine was messy and his hands were black.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this sense and say things like "a messy movie" when they just mean "violent". "Messy" suggests a lot of visible blood or substances spread around, not just any violence.
Meaning
involving lots of blood, dirt, or goo
Collocations
messy job
|messy accident
|messy operation
|messy crime scene
|messy injury
|messy to clean up
Synonyms
gory (Stronger and more graphic, focuses mainly on a lot of blood in violent situations.)
|
grimy (Focuses on dirt and grease rather than on blood or bodily fluids.)
Antonyms
clean (Describes an operation or job with little or no blood, dirt, or waste visible.)
Themes
health
|work
|safety
|body
|daily_life
Definition
Having or making a lot of blood, dirt, or other bad stuff everywhere.
Involving a lot of blood, dirt, or other unpleasant material being spilled or spread around, especially in an accident, medical procedure, or task.
C1
INFORMAL
5
Usage pattern:
[someone] is messy (about [something])
He's so messy on Twitter, always subtweeting his exes.
Annyira drámázós a Twitteren: mindig burkolt posztokban célozgat az exeire.
She can be really messy, sharing screenshots of private chats.
Elég kavarós tud lenni: privát beszélgetésekről oszt meg képernyőképeket.
That was messy of you, bringing up his past in front of everyone.
I stay away from messy people who love to stir up drama.
The interview got messy when the host started asking personal questions.
Learner examples
He is messy on social media and starts many fights.
Drámázós a közösségi médiában, és sok vitát gerjeszt.
She is messy and tells everyone private stories.
Kavarós, és mindenkinek kiteregeti a magánügyeket.
That comment was messy because it was too personal.
I do not like messy people who enjoy drama.
My friend is fun but sometimes very messy online.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this is only about being physically untidy. In online and social contexts, especially in American English and on social media, calling someone "messy" usually means they enjoy drama or share too much private or mean information, not just that their room is untidy.
Meaning
liking drama and troublemaking
Collocations
a messy person
|so messy online
|messy on social media
|messy with other people's business
|that was messy of you
Synonyms
drama-loving (Informal; stresses enjoying emotional conflict, similar to this sense of "messy".)
|
messy boots (Very informal slang phrase for someone extremely messy in this way.)
Antonyms
discreet (Describes someone who keeps private things private, the opposite of a socially messy person.)
Themes
social media
|relationships
|personality
|communication
|emotions
Definition
Used for someone who likes drama and problems and often talks too much about other people’s private lives.
Describes a person who often creates or enjoys drama by gossiping, oversharing, or publicly exposing private or controversial details.
Grammar
Dictionary form
messy
IPA
GB/mˈɛsi/
US/mˈɛsi/
Syllables & stress
messy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (messy)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: messy
- Comparative: messier
- Superlative: messiest
Word family
Expressions
get messy
1/ɡˈɛt mˈɛsi/
fixed phrase
informal
become chaotic or full of trouble
To become difficult, full of problems, or full of conflict.
Examples
- Be honest with each other before things get messy.
- The situation could get messy if we don't make a decision soon.
messy breakup
1/mˈɛsi bɹˈeɪkˌʌp/
fixed phrase
relationship ending with conflict and drama
The end of a romantic relationship that has a lot of fighting, crying, and other problems.
Examples
- After their messy breakup, they stopped talking completely.
- They had a messy breakup that played out on social media.
messy breakup
1/mˈɛsi bɹˈeɪkˌʌp/
fixed phrase
informal
difficult, conflict-filled split
a breakup with lots of problems and arguments
Examples
- Their messy breakup played out on social media.
- It was a messy breakup, and they had to fight over the apartment.
- After a messy breakup, he blocked her number.
Learner examples
- It was a messy breakup.
messy bun
1/mˈɛsi bˈʌn/
fixed phrase
loose, slightly untidy bun hairstyle
A hairstyle where the hair is tied up in a loose ball on the head and looks a little bit untidy on purpose.
Examples
- She pulled her hair into a messy bun before starting work.
- The model wore jeans and a messy bun for a relaxed look.
messy divorce
1/mˈɛsi dɪvˈɔɹs/
fixed phrase
divorce with conflict and legal drama
A divorce where the two people fight a lot, often in court, and it takes a long time to finish.
Examples
- The couple went through a messy divorce that filled the gossip pages.
- A messy divorce can be very hard on children.
messy eater
1/mˈɛsi ˈitɚ/
fixed phrase
person who eats in an untidy way
Someone who often drops food or makes the table dirty when they eat.
Examples
- He's such a messy eater; there are always crumbs everywhere.
- We put a bib on the baby because she's a very messy eater.
messy hair
1/mˈɛsi hˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
hair that is not neat
Hair that is not neat or brushed and looks wild or out of place.
Examples
- She woke up with messy hair and dark circles under her eyes.
- The model's slightly messy hair gave her a relaxed look.
messy room
1/mˈɛsi ɹˈum/
fixed phrase
a room that is untidy or dirty
A room that is not clean or not neat, with many things on the floor or in the wrong place.
Examples
- I can't relax in a messy room.
- His parents are always yelling at him about his messy room.
things got messy
1/θˈɪŋz ɡˈɑt mˈɛsi/
fixed phrase
informal
the situation became chaotic and difficult
Used to say that a situation became very difficult, with many problems or conflicts.
Examples
- We were just talking, and then things got messy when money came up.
- Things got messy after the company announced the layoffs.