mess with

phrasal verb

messed with; messing with; messes with

informal

1

: to cause trouble for (someone) : to deal with (someone) in a way that may cause anger or violence

I wouldn't want to mess with him.

You'd better not be messing with me.

2

chiefly US : to deal with or be involved with (something that causes or that could cause trouble)

The company doesn't want to mess with small distributors.

He doesn't want to mess with cocaine anymore.

3

: to handle or play with (something) in a careless way : to mess around with (something)

Don't mess with the camera.

Examples of mess with in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While scoring remains high compared to historical norms (teams are combining for a little under 14 runs per game overall), why mess with a seemingly good thing? —Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 30 May 2025

But since then, Carmichael’s work has been distinguished by his investment in messing with the form. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 23 May 2025

The essential Republican message may become blurred around the edges, the way that George W. Bush messed with it by expanding Medicare or his father did by accepting a small tax hike. —Dylan Matthews, Vox, 22 May 2025

Additionally, Valdes says to steer clear of abrasive shampoos and swimming pools—chlorine can mess with your color. —Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 22 May 2025