topsy-turvy
1 of 3adverb
top·sy-tur·vy ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-vē 
1
: in utter confusion or disorder
2
: with the top or head downward : upside down
topsy-turvy
2 of 3adjective
: turned topsy-turvy : totally disordered
topsy-turvily
ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-və-lē
adverb topsy-turvydom
ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-vē-dəm
noun topsy-turvy
3 of 3noun
: topsy-turviness
Synonyms
Adjective
- chaotic
- cluttered
- confused
- disarranged
- disarrayed
- disheveled
- dishevelled
- disordered
- disorderly
- higgledy-piggledy
- hugger-mugger
- jumbled
- littered
- messed
- messy
- muddled
- mussed
- mussy
- pell-mell
- rumpled
- sloppy
- tousled
- tumbled
- unkempt
- untidy
- upside-down
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Adverb
probably ultimately from tops (plural of top entry 1) + obsolete English terve to turn upside down
First Known Use
Adverb
1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1612, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1655, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
topsy-turvy
adverb or adjective
top·sy-tur·vy
ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-vē
1
: upside down
The wagon lay topsy-turvy at the bottom of the hill.
2
: in complete disorder
"… our lives have been very topsy-turvy for quite some time."
Lemony Snicket, The Austere Academy
Lemony Snicket, The Austere Academytopsy-turvy 1 of 2
adjective
as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness the office is still topsy-turvy even though we moved in months ago Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- chaotic
- messy
- confused
- messed
- littered
- jumbled
- cluttered
- sloppy
- filthy
- muddled
- tumbled
- tangled
- dirty
- disordered
- disorderly
- disarrayed
- disarranged
- upside-down
- shaggy
- untidy
- disheveled
- unkempt
- higgledy-piggledy
- rumpled
- stained
- tousled
- wrinkled
- nasty
- pell-mell
- mussy
- mussed
- hugger-mugger
- out of joint
- dishevelled
- knotted
- squalid
- blackened
- grimy
- spotted
- dingy
- slovenly
- sullied
- polluted
- besmirched
- mucky
- sordid
- bedraggled
- dowdy
- at sixes and sevens
- grubby
- soiled
- unclean
- frowsy
- grungy
- neglected
- befouled
- uncleanly
- smudged
- begrimed
- cruddy
- foul
- sloven
- draggled
- contaminated
- slatternly
- shabby
- uncombed
- snarled
- grotty
- neglectful
- bemired
- tainted
- adulterated
- negligent
- seedy
- frowzy
- sleazy
- defiled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- orderly
- neat
- organized
- tidy
- uncluttered
- shipshape
- sparkling
- regular
- crisp
- systematic
- immaculate
- ordered
- snug
- hygienic
- trim
- unsullied
- methodical
- careful
- spotless
- cleaned
- clean
- kempt
- well-ordered
- antiseptic
- systematized
- unsoiled
- stainless
- cleanly
- methodic
- spic-and-span
- meticulous
- finicky
- fastidious
- neatened
- tidied
- bandbox
- fussy
- spick-and-span
- wholesome
- manicured
- unpolluted
- groomed
- combed
- untainted
- undefiled
- well-groomed
- taintless
topsy-turvy
2 of 2adverb
as in haphazard
Synonyms & Similar Words
- haphazard
- haphazardly
- riotously
- turbulently
- tumultuously
- haywire
- aimlessly
- chaotically
- wild
- crazily
- recklessly
- heedlessly
- hit or miss
- berserk
- harum-scarum
- confusedly
- uncontrollably
- desperately
- hectically
- amuck
- agitatedly
- frenetically
- amok
- frenziedly
- wildly
- hotheadedly
- frantically
- helter-skelter
- wantonly
- feverishly
- berserkly
- madly
- skittishly
- pell-mell
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- coolly
- calmly
- serenely
- cooly
- peacefully
- mildly
- placidly
- imperturbably
- orderly
- unconcernedly
- meekly
- composedly
- systematically
- tamely
- passively
- collectedly
- self-possessedly
- self-composedly
- methodically