messy
gb/mˈɛsi/ us/mˈɛsi/
A2
Inglés
~ 9900
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adjective
A2
property
1
untidy or dirty in appearance
Not clean or not neat; things are in the wrong place or there is dirt everywhere.
Patrón de uso:
[something] is messy / make [something] messy
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
untidy (Focuses more on things not being arranged neatly, less on dirt itself.)
|
disorganized (Stresses lack of order more than physical dirt or stains.)
Antónimos
tidy (Emphasizes neat, orderly placement of things, the opposite of a messy space.)
Colocaciones
messy room
|messy house
|messy desk
|messy hair
|messy clothes
|leave [something] messy
Temas
daily life
|home
|appearance
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The kids left the living room so messy after the party.
- Your desk is too messy; I can't find the report.
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- My room is very messy, so I need to clean it.
- Her hair is messy because of the wind.
- The table is messy after dinner.
- He always keeps his desk messy at work.
- The floor is messy with toys.
unknown
B1
property
2
disorganized or poorly structured
Not well organized or clear, so it is hard to understand or use.
Patrón de uso:
[something] is messy / a messy [process/plan/text]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
organized (Highlights that parts are ordered and planned, the opposite of a messy structure.)
Colocaciones
messy process
|messy schedule
|messy plan
|messy writing
|messy code
|messy data
Temas
work
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The project became very messy because no one was in charge.
- His argument is interesting, but the essay is messy and hard to follow.
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- My notes are messy, so I cannot study well.
- The plan is messy and people are confused.
- Her report is messy and has no clear structure.
- The meeting was messy and there was no order.
- Our schedule is messy this week.
adjective
B2
property
3
emotionally difficult and full of conflict
Hard and painful because there is a lot of emotion, anger, or problems between people.
Patrón de uso:
a messy [breakup/divorce/situation]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
amicable (Used especially for breakups or divorces where people stay friendly, the opposite of a messy separation.)
Colocaciones
messy breakup
|messy divorce
|messy relationship
|messy family situation
|messy custody battle
|messy political fight
Temas
relationships
|emotions
|legal
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- They went through a very messy divorce that lasted three years.
- I don't want this to turn into a messy argument in front of the kids.
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Their breakup was very messy and they do not talk now.
- The divorce is messy because they fight about money.
- 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.
adjective
B2
property
4
involving lots of blood, dirt, or goo
Having or making a lot of blood, dirt, or other bad stuff everywhere.
Patrón de uso:
a messy [job/accident/operation]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
clean (Describes an operation or job with little or no blood, dirt, or waste visible.)
Colocaciones
messy job
|messy accident
|messy operation
|messy crime scene
|messy injury
|messy to clean up
Temas
health
|work
|safety
|body
|daily_life
Ejemplos
- The car crash was messy, and there was blood on the road.
- It was a messy operation, but the surgeon managed to save her.
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The accident was messy, with blood on the street.
- Removing the old pipes was a messy job.
- 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.
adjective
informal
C1
property
5
liking drama and troublemaking
Used for someone who likes drama and problems and often talks too much about other people’s private lives.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] is messy (about [something])
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
discreet (Describes someone who keeps private things private, the opposite of a socially messy person.)
Colocaciones
a messy person
|so messy online
|messy on social media
|messy with other people's business
|that was messy of you
Temas
social media
|relationships
|personality
|communication
|emotions
Ejemplos
- He's so messy on Twitter, always subtweeting his exes.
- She can be really messy, sharing screenshots of private chats.
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He is messy on social media and starts many fights.
- She is messy and tells everyone private stories.
- 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.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
messy
AFI
GB/mˈɛsi/
US/mˈɛsi/
Sílabas y acento
messy (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (messy)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: messy
- Comparative: messier
- Superlative: messiest
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
get messy
1/ɡˈɛt mˈɛsi/
fixed phrase
informal
become chaotic or full of trouble
To become difficult, full of problems, or full of conflict.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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
Ejemplos
- 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.
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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- We were just talking, and then things got messy when money came up.
- Things got messy after the company announced the layoffs.