1
as in to horse around
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
quit fooling around on the jungle gym, or you'll get hurt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
we fooled around outdoors for a while, then went in to get some work done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of fool around
While the siblings have the habit of getting into troubles and to only use their creative skills to fool around, Michael sees in them a real talent.
—
Maelle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Players were in a dorm room fooling around with a gun.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024
Why fool around with a convention that everyone understood and practiced?
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2024
Those who crave the thrill of a victory may embody the competitor.
Bigger, bolder personalities may shine as jokers, always fooling around, or as storytellers, bringing imagination to life.
—Julianna Bragg, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fool around
Maelle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Players were in a dorm room fooling around with a gun.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024
Why fool around with a convention that everyone understood and practiced?
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2024
Those who crave the thrill of a victory may embody the competitor.
Bigger, bolder personalities may shine as jokers, always fooling around, or as storytellers, bringing imagination to life.
—Julianna Bragg, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fool around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fool around
Verb
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Quit horsing around — the Clydesdales are back!—
Breanne L. Heldman,
People.com,
10 Feb. 2025
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In the video, Payne is shown horsing around with a large outdoor crowd and his bandmates, encouraging the fans to quiet their screaming and then raise the volume all the way back up.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Vick had a career-high 540 yards rushing in 1988 and played only four NFL seasons.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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How Nvidia plays export whack-a-mole Culture champion.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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So the final suit cuts up around his neck, and the floral embellishment on his clothes ties him into all of that.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2025
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Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/4 cup each shortening and cold butter, cut up, until pieces are pea size.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Older workers should focus on upscaling — gaining new skills or boosting their current skill set — to help show off their skills to employers, said Vicki Salemi, career expert at Monster.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
1 May 2025
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Ramona Singer is showing off her body in all of its unfiltered glory.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Sean Keeler, columnist: The Broncos needed a franchise QB last year, and didn’t mess around.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2025
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Body gua shas typically feature more intense angles and ridges—perfect for regular maintenance and post-strain relief alike (that last Pilates class was not messing around).—
Allure,
Allure,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
2 Oct. 2024
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Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
2 Oct. 2024
Verb
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For the first time, Tindall had to act up without his partner over these past two weeks, with Graeme Jones, his fellow assistant, deputising alongside him.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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Is his palm injury acting up again, or the pressure to join the elite company of Jack Nicklaus, who won 3 times at The PLAYERS Championship?—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As good as all the players in Dead Outlaw are, the show belongs to Durand, who has kicked around Broadway for some 20 years in shows from Spring Awakening and the Go Gos jukeboxer Head Over Heels to the 2023 crowd-pleaser Shucked.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2025
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Republicans have been kicking around the idea of a roughly 40 percent top tax bracket on income above $1 million amid talks about the sweeping reconciliation package GOP lawmakers are crafting.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fool around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fool%20around. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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