as in mess
a state in which everything is out of order
careful planning had eliminated most of the muss that usually accompanies a move to a new house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the wind mussed up my hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muss
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2021
No other muss or complications.
—Sam MacHkovech, Ars Technica, 8 June 2020
Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024
Pearce, in a magnificent performance, plays him as a kind of citadel—towering yet human-scaled, his immaculate dress and coiffure barely mussed by the occasional burst of temper or spasm of ego.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for muss
Noun
No-fuss, no muss.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2021
No other muss or complications.
—Sam MacHkovech, Ars Technica, 8 June 2020
Verb
This can also cause trouble when doing gram-to-ounce conversions, which require a double-tap: A toggle switch at the device’s base would be more helpful, without mussing up the smooth surface of the cup.
—Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024
Pearce, in a magnificent performance, plays him as a kind of citadel—towering yet human-scaled, his immaculate dress and coiffure barely mussed by the occasional burst of temper or spasm of ego.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for muss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muss
Noun
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Brit, trying to find her footing after the mess Kenya unleashed, opens up to the group.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
14 Apr. 2025
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If the mess is semi-solid, use a sturdy piece of cardboard, a paper plate, or another flat surface, as a scoop.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This decision by the Russian Federation will undoubtedly endanger lives and disrupt critical HIV prevention efforts for ordinary Russian citizens.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
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Behind the scenes there was no doubt other dreams were dashed and processes disrupted.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Immigrant women describe 'hell on earth' in ICE detention The Trump administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2025
-
She’s already been through hell, so surviving is just innate within her.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This involved manually disturbing the leg and then releasing it, capturing the resulting oscillations on high-speed video.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 Apr. 2025
-
What Is No-Till Gardening? Simply put, no-till is an approach to gardening that avoids disturbing soil in order to preserve its structure.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Several studies have found that polyphenols, especially tannins, can also play havoc with your iron supplement.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2025
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The pandemic though wrought havoc on student achievement, with many learning gaps remaining nearly five years after schools first closed.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Pretty much everything else is shuffled off to the infotainment system, a single circular touchscreen that lives in the middle of the dash.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 Apr. 2025
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While events were shuffled around to fit a new schedule, the royals will also be about to pace themselves following the monarch's recent health setback.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Instead, voters themselves are jumbles of competing and sometimes contradictory interests.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Feb. 2025
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Baker also leads the orchestra, which sounds grand — although the sound in the arts center’s Pugh Theater often left musicians, lead singers and chorus all at the same level, with actors speaking over all of it at the same time to create a sonic jumble.—
Matthew J. Palm,
Orlando Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Hippler said in the new order bringing more attention to it in opening statements and through expert testimony would add more time to the already lengthy trial and probably confuse the jury.—
Jean Casarez,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
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Snakeheads are often confused with a native species—the bowfin—but anglers can tell them apart by looking at the anal fin, which is much longer on a snakehead.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Muss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muss. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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