mess
Plural
messes
1
a state of disorder, untidiness, or confusion
- After the party, the living room was a complete mess.
- His desk is always in a mess, with papers everywhere.
- The kitchen was a mess after she tried to bake a cake.
- The child's room is such a mess that it's hard to walk through.
- He felt like his life was a mess after losing his job.
2
a situation with many problems or difficulties, caused particularly by someone who is careless
- The project's budget overrun created a financial mess that took months to sort out.
- His failure to submit the report on time left the team in a mess with the client.
- The unplanned changes to the schedule turned the event into a logistical mess.
- Leaving the negotiations unfinished created a diplomatic mess for the new administration to handle.
- Her decision to ignore the maintenance warnings resulted in a mechanical mess that halted production for days.
3
a large dining room or area in a military establishment where service personnel eat, socialize, and relax
- The soldiers gathered in the mess for their evening meal.
- The mess was bustling with activity as everyone lined up for breakfast.
- She decorated the mess for the holiday party.
- They discussed their plans over coffee in the mess.
- The mess serves as a place for service personnel to unwind after a long day.
Synonyms:
4
a meal provided for military personnel in a communal dining facility known as a mess hall
- The soldiers enjoyed their evening mess after a long day of training.
- Breakfast mess was served promptly at 0600 hours.
- He looked forward to the special holiday mess prepared by the kitchen staff.
- The mess today includes a variety of fresh vegetables and grilled meats.
- After finishing their mess, the crew quickly cleaned up and prepared for the next task.
5
a dish or serving of soft, semiliquid food, often consisting of a mixture of ingredients
- She prepared a nutritious mess of oatmeal for breakfast.
- The chef served a delicious mess of stew at the dining table.
- The cat enjoyed a mess of wet food from its bowl.
- He spooned a mess of porridge into his bowl on the cold winter morning.
- The baby made a mess of mashed peas on the high chair.
6
a large number, amount, or extent of something, often creating a sense of disorder or clutter
- The kitchen counter was covered with a mess of dirty dishes.
- He had a mess of paperwork to sort through by the end of the day.
- There was a mess of toys scattered across the living room floor.
- She bought a mess of fresh vegetables from the farmers' market.
- The team encountered a mess of problems during the project.