adjective, mess·i·er, mess·i·est.
- characterized by a dirty, untidy, or disordered condition: a messy room.
- causing a mess: a messy recipe; messy work.
- embarrassing, difficult, or unpleasant: a messy political situation.
- characterized by moral or psychological confusion.
adjective messier or messiest
- dirty, confused, or untidy
adj.1843, “untidy,” from mess (n.) + -y (2). Figurative use (“unethical”) by 1924. Related: Messily; messiness.