Clutter — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Meaning & Definition of Clutter

Clutter (verb)

to run in disorder
to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness —often used with up

Clutter (noun)

a crowded or confused mass or collection
things that clutter a place
interfering radar echoes caused by reflection from objects (as on the ground) other than the target

Clutter (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

an unorganized collection or mixture of various things

"a scrapbook that was a clutter of snapshots, diary entries, letters, and newspaper clippings"

similar: agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, collage, crazy quilt, farrago, gallimaufry, grab bag, gumbo, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jambalaya, jumble, jungle, litter, macédoine, medley, mélange, menagerie, miscellanea, miscellany, mishmash, mixed bag, montage, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, pastiche, patchwork, patchwork quilt, potpourri, ragbag, ragout, rummage, salad, salmagundi, scramble, shuffle, smorgasbord, stew, tumble, variety, welter

related: detritus, notions, oddments, odds and ends, sundries, accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomerate, conglomeration, catchall, admixture, alloy, amalgam, blend, combination, commixture, composite, compound, fusion, intermixture, mix-up, bollix, chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, dog's breakfast (chiefly British), mess, morass, shambles, imbroglio, knot, snarl, tangle
a state of noisy, confused activity

"the clutter created by the exhibitors setting up for the annual state fair"

similar: ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, bustle, clatter, coil, commotion, disturbance, do (chiefly dialect), foofaraw, fun, furor, furore, fuss, helter-skelter, hoo-ha, hoopla, hubble-bubble, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly, hurly-burly, hurricane, hurry, hurry-scurry, kerfuffle (chiefly British), moil, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, splore (Scottish), squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do, tumult, turmoil, uproar, welter, whirl, williwaw, zoo

related: cacophony, clamor, din, howl, hue and cry, noise, outcry, racket, roar, disorder, unrest, upheaval, eruption, flare-up, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst, brawl, fracas, fray, hassle, melee, scuffle, dither, fever, fret, lather, tizzy

near: calm, hush, peace, quiet, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquility, order, orderliness

Clutter (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

as in fill, clog

similar: clog, fill, pack, burden, encumber, freight, lade, laden, load, lumber, saddle, weight, heap, mound, pile, stack, press, weigh, strain, tax, overburden, overload, overtax, surcharge, hamper, handicap, afflict, oppress

opposite: disburden, discharge, disencumber, unburden, unlade, unload, alleviate, ease, lighten, relieve
as in disrupt, disturb

similar: confuse, derange, disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disjoint, dislocate, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, hash, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, muss, rumple, scramble, shuffle, tousle, tumble, upset, embroil, entangle, snarl, tangle, agitate, perturb, stir (up), unsettle

opposite: arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal, order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy, align, line, line up, queue, classify, codify, methodize, systematize, systemize, adjust, fix, groom, make up, spruce (up), unscramble

Related Entry: Clutter (up) (verb)

Clutter (up) is a different word from Clutter. The synonyms below are for clutter (up), not for clutter.

as in stop, close

similar: clog, close, dam, obstruct, plug, stop, block

opposite: clear, free, open, unblock, ease, facilitate, loosen (up), smooth, unchoke, unclog, unplug, unstop, unclutter

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Clutter

The most common words with a similar meaning to Clutter:

Chiefly dialect: do

Chiefly British: kerfuffle

Scottish: splore

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Clutter

Words with the opposite meaning of Clutter:

disburden, discharge, disencumber, unburden, unlade, unload, alleviate, ease, lighten, relieve, arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal, order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy, align, line, line up, queue, classify, codify, methodize, systematize, systemize

Related Words for Clutter

Near Antonyms of Clutter

calm, hush, peace, quiet, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquility, orderliness

Word Forms of Clutter

Inflections: cluttered, cluttering, clutters

Origin & Etymology of Clutter

Middle English clotteren to clot, from clot

First known use: 1556i

Frequently Asked Questions about Clutter

What does "Clutter" mean?

"Clutter" means to run in disorder. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to run in disorder. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Clutter"?

Other words for "Clutter" include agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, collage, crazy quilt and farrago. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Clutter" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Clutter"?

There are 211 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Clutter". Common alternatives include agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, collage, crazy quilt, farrago, gallimaufry and grab bag.

What is the opposite of "Clutter"?

Antonyms of "Clutter" include disburden, discharge, disencumber, unburden, unlade, unload, alleviate and ease. Near antonyms include calm, hush, peace and quiet.

How do you use "Clutter" in a sentence?

Examples of "Clutter" in a sentence: "a scrapbook that was a clutter of snapshots, diary entries, letters, and newspaper clippings"; "the clutter created by the exhibitors setting up for the annual state fair".

Is "Clutter" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Clutter" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Clutter"?

"Clutter" is pronounced /ˈklə-tər/ and divided into syllables as clut·ter.

What is the origin of the word "Clutter"?

"Clutter" comes from Middle English clotteren to clot, from clot. First known use: 1556i.