topsy-turvily

Examples

• All

• He tossed his papers topsy-turvily onto the desk in frustration.

• The wind blew the leaves topsy-turvily across the empty street all afternoon.

• They rushed topsy-turvily to the exit when the alarm sounded.

• She packed her suitcase topsy-turvily before the trip.

• He tossed his papers topsy-turvily onto the desk in frustration.

• They rushed topsy-turvily to the exit when the alarm sounded.

• She packed her suitcase topsy-turvily before the trip.

Synonyms

T

turvy

vstopsy-turvily

• Archaic

9 9.9

Messy and not organized

focuses more on manner of happening rather than the resulting state

C

confusedly

vstopsy-turvily

1 4.0

In a way that shows you are not sure or do not understand

emphasizes confused lack of clarity rather than physical disarray

H

head over heels

vstopsy-turvily

• Informal

1 4.2

In a hurry and moving clumsily without control

expresses disorder without implying speed or clumsy movement

H

higgledy-piggledy

vstopsy-turvily

• Informal

1 9.9

In a messy, mixed-up way with things in no order

is similar but often includes the idea of being turned upside down

T

topsy-turvy

vstopsy-turvily

• Informal

7.0

In a mixed up, messy way

has identical meaning and identical idiomatic use

A

arsy varsy

vstopsy-turvily

• Archaic

9.9

A state of confusion where things are mixed up and messy

describes disorder more generally rather than extreme chaos

H

higgledy

vstopsy-turvily

• Informal

9.9

In a messy, untidy way

is broader and can also imply things are inverted or confused

I

in great confusion

vstopsy-turvily

5.2

With much hurry and disorder

describes disorder without the extra sense of frantic haste

Antonyms

O

orderly

55 2.4

Arranged in a tidy, organized way

How Disorderly

chaotically

1 5.6

topsy-turvily

• Archaic

9.8

sloppily

5 2.9

neatly

93 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology