messy

B1 · Intermediate

adj. describing an activity or person that creates a lot of dirt or untidiness.

adj. prone to creating disorder or leaving a trail of refuse; describing an activity that inherently produces waste or dirt.

“Eating spaghetti can be very messy if you aren't careful with the sauce.”

“The renovation proved to be a messy process, as plaster dust managed to seep through the protective plastic sheets into the rest of the house.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. difficult to deal with because it is complicated or involves strong emotions.

adj. complex, unpleasant, or difficult to resolve, often due to emotional or legal complications.

“The couple had a messy divorce that took years to finalize.”

“The negotiations became messy when both parties realized that the original contract contained several contradictory clauses regarding intellectual property.”

C1 · Advanced Informal · Slang

adj. describing someone who likes to start drama or share secrets about other people.

adj. characterised by a tendency to provoke social conflict, spread gossip, or engage in unnecessary drama.

“I don't want to be messy, but did you hear why they actually broke up?”

“She was known for being messy in the office, constantly whispering about her colleagues' private lives to anyone who would listen.”