Obscure words for messes

25 June 2020

I’m a word person. I made my living as a freelance pet writer for ten years before starting Peace of Mind Organizing in 2005. I love writing, which is how I manage to blog at least once a week on two different blogs. And I especially love writing about organizing and clutter. So how is it that I never heard of these words?

My friend and podcast co-host, Shannon Wilkinson, introduced me to two synonyms for “mess,” when she posted one of her cartoons on Facebook. My reaction was “how have I never heard of these words?” So she sent along a link to this blog post from the inimitable Merriam-Webster.com.

Here’s her cartoon:

Have you ever heard of these words?

  • Strubbly
  • Gaumy
  • Streel
  • Slommacky
  • Hurrah’s nest
  • Shambolic

They all have subtly different meanings. I think my favorite (or perhaps the one I can relate most to) is Shambolic, which, as Shannon’s cartoon points out, means “obviously disorganized or confused.”

I encourage you to read the Merriam-Webster blog post, 6 obscure words for messes to learn more about these excellent words, including their origins.

Follow Shannon on Instagram if you’d like to see more of her cartoons!

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About Janine

Hello! I’m Janine Adams — a certified professional organizer based in St. Louis, and the creator of Peace of Mind Organizing®.

I love order, harmony + beauty, but I believe that the way that you feel about yourself and your home is what truly matters.

If you’re ready to de­clutter with a purpose and add more ease to your life, you’ve found the right blog — and you’ve found the right company.

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