as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
the quilt was a higgledy-piggledy patchwork of odd-shaped fabric scraps, each of which held a fond memory for the family
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in topsy-turvy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of higgledy-piggledy
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
The oft wild, higgledy-piggledy marketing of so many strains, preparations and products has lead to an erosion of meaning for the customer base.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
Instead of obsessing over the latest higgledy-piggledy, do something useful.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024
Go local in Tokyo Courtesy of Trunk Hotels Hidden in the higgledy-piggledy lanes of Tokyo’s Kagurazaka district (also known as ‘Little Kyoto’), Trunk(House) helps its guests experience the city in a way few other hotels can.
—Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2023
Adverb
Elsbeth volunteers to stay at his schmancy, higgledy-piggledy Asian-fusion wellness center to continue the investigation.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
The oft wild, higgledy-piggledy marketing of so many strains, preparations and products has lead to an erosion of meaning for the customer base.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
Instead of obsessing over the latest higgledy-piggledy, do something useful.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024
Go local in Tokyo Courtesy of Trunk Hotels Hidden in the higgledy-piggledy lanes of Tokyo’s Kagurazaka district (also known as ‘Little Kyoto’), Trunk(House) helps its guests experience the city in a way few other hotels can.
—Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for higgledy-piggledy
Adjective
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That will mean messy debates over taxes, benefits programs, the debt ceiling and other big-ticket items.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Grey's Anatomy may have hit its 20th anniversary last month, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for one more medical drama (with messy romances) — and Netflix wants in.—
Rebecca Aizin,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adverb
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Directed by Marvin Lemus, the new flick depicts a topsy-turvy experience that Garcia is familiar with.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Apr. 2025
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Here’s how the topsy-turvy weather will unfold this week: Half a year’s worth of rain could fall in South Texas Up to half a year’s worth of rain will drench parts of South Texas starting late Wednesday as a storm develops in northern Mexico and taps into plentiful Gulf moisture.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Why Talent Alone Won’t Cut It: The Role Of Engineering Standards And Best Practices Many companies mistakenly believe that hiring top-tier engineers automatically leads to high-quality software, but even the best engineers can’t thrive in a chaotic environment.—
Sebastian Avila,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Carter arrives as a fumbling, awkward, lovable med student—the audience surrogate in the chaotic and intense environment of a fictional Chicago emergency ward.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Harris emphasizes nothing has yet changed but customers remain confused as to the status of the incentive and Harbinger’s IRA Risk Free Guarantee was created to mitigate that confusion.—
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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As Chelsea, Wood widens her eyes and slants her eyebrows up when confused, bares her teeth and scrunches her whole face in terror, and barely contains her smile when smitten.—
Ashliene McMenamy,
Allure,
8 Apr. 2025
Adverb
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With barely any gas in the tank, his truck accidentally rolled backward into the Secret Service car behind him.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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An enlarged liver can accidentally get injured during the operation, Ren-Fielding explained.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Higgledy-piggledy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/higgledy-piggledy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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