1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
a hugger-mugger presentation of the facts of the case that left everyone confused
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
a tale of hugger-mugger doings and international espionage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hugger-mugger
Adjective
-
The trail from the bay leading to the preserve’s entrance is rough, rocky and messy.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
16 Feb. 2025 -
Their wedding episode remains one of the most iconic moments in television history; and that romance can be messy and complicated, but completely worth fighting for.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Brendan Marks and Matt Baker uncovered documents that illustrate North Carolina’s clandestine research into conference realignment.—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
12 Feb. 2025
-
This defiant and entertaining work playfully uses headshots and avatars to visualize clandestine audio recordings documenting years of Kafkaesque impositions, threats, and vital dissident art.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The week’s biggest stories A month after L.A. firestorms, essential questions still haunt Southern California The region is still grappling with basic questions about what caused the blazes, why evacuations were so chaotic and whether officials were prepared.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2025
-
While the transfer was orderly – in contrast to chaotic scenes surrounding the release of Israeli and Thai hostages in Gaza last week – the three appeared thin and pale when they were led onto a makeshift stage.—
Sophie Tanno and Mick Krever,
CNN,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The series also highlighted how Illinois statutes provide a degree of protection to politicians. To prosecute their case, the feds brought charges against Madigan after extensive wiretapping and cooperation from two undercover moles, former 25th Ward Ald.—
Megan Crepeau,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2025
-
In May 2023, an undercover police officer went into the Schenectady deli and grocery where Alaidrus was working behind the counter.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Universal revealed character details for each of the film's leads, which can be read below: Academy Award® nominee Johansson plays skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett, contracted to lead a skilledteam on a top-secret mission to secure the genetic material.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
-
Johansson plays covert operations expert Zora Bennett, who leads the top-secret mission.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
This was to help end the puppy mill industry, where dogs are bred en masse, leading them to be born and raised in filthy and neglected conditions.—
Andrew Sheeler,
Sacramento Bee,
12 Feb. 2025
-
The boys all came home, filthy and with unbrushed teeth.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Orange County Register,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
As previously reported by The News, the MTA has been struggling to fix a 2,000 foot underground pipe at the facility since 2021, when the line responsible for feeding the sprinkler system from the city main failed to hold pressure.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Those underground punks went so hard that NBC was bombarded with complaints in real time, leading the network to cut away from the performance to a pre-recorded sketch.—
Shannon Carlin,
TIME,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The top official of the Social Security Administration quit over the weekend after Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency sought access to sensitive records containing the private information of Americans, according to a source familiar with the dispute.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
-
At the same time, several high-ranking officials have departed their roles over concerns about DOGE staffers’ potential unlawful access to private taxpayer information. 4.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
18 Feb. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Thesaurus Entries Near hugger-mugger
Cite this Entry
“Hugger-mugger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hugger-mugger. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share