Messy room, so to speak NYT crossword clue

The answer to the New York Times The Mini crossword clue “Messy room, so to speak” is STY. A sty refers to a pigsty, which is notoriously dirty and chaotic, and in casual speech, people often use “sty” to describe a very messy room. It’s a playful way of highlighting disorder without being overly harsh.

When someone says a room “looks like a sty,” they are usually emphasizing the level of clutter or untidiness in a humorous or exaggerated manner. Knowing that STY fits this everyday metaphor makes it the perfect solution to the crossword clue.