hugger-mugger
- adjective
- /ˈhʌɡərˌmʌɡər/
- Archaic
- She tried to organize the hugger-mugger papers on her desk.
Examples
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She was frustrated by the hugger-mugger arrangement of old books on the shelf.
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The children's toys were left in a hugger-mugger heap all over the living room.
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After the storm, the backyard was left in hugger-mugger confusion.
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The attic was full of hugger-mugger boxes and forgotten keepsakes.
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The room was in a complete state of hugger-mugger after the party.
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After the sudden move, the garage became a hugger-mugger of boxes and furniture.
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He tried to find his notes in the hugger-mugger of papers scattered on the floor.
Synonyms
Not organized and full of confusion
Difficult to control and messy or noisy
Messy and not in order, with things mixed up
Something that is untidy and not in order
Messy and not organized
Not arranged in a clear or tidy way
A place or thing that is untidy and not in order
In a wild, disordered way
Mixed up and in a messy, confused state
In a confused, messy way with no order
Very badly organized and causing confusion
In a way that shows you are not sure or do not understand
In a messy, mixed-up way with things in no order
In a messy, disorganized way
Mixed together in a confused and untidy way
In a messy, untidy way
In a confused, hurried way with no order
In a confused and disorganized state
Very messy and not organized
A very messy, confused mix of things in one place
Antonyms
How Disorderly
Surface Forms
Etymology
A helpful way to remember hugger-mugger is to think of two short words that rhyme and sound tangled, like hugger + mugger; this gives a picture of a mixed-up mess. So the word as an adjective or adverb means 'chaotic' or done in a 'disorganized' way.