FOOLED AROUND Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

fooled around

verb

past tense of fool around

as in horsed 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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as in played

to spend time in aimless activity we fooled around outdoors for a while, then went in to get some work done

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fooled around Not too long ago, artificial intelligence was more or less a science project in which data scientists and developers fooled around with one-off small or test projects. — Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fooled around

Verb

Californios’ reign began to vanish even before the discovery of gold, when droughts and floods wiped out their easygoing livelihoods, and their lands were cut up, sold off, and their land grants swept aside by the new state.

— Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
The board's original proposal called for cutting up to 18 English learner teachers across the district.

— Beret Leone, CBS News, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of cut up

Verb

Federal district judges, even at the risk of physical threats, played a key role by throttling unconstitutional White House efforts to seize state voting records, curtail mail-in voting and manipulate the count in Alaska.

— James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
That is underscored by the fact that Democrats also certainly played a role in getting the word out about Amendment 3.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of played

Verb

Then in spring training this year, Hollowell again messed around with different changeup grips while incorporating mental cues from previous coaches, and something clicked with a circle-change grip.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
Dragstrem, who focuses more on production, has messed around with it but was left unsatisfied; McGill, who’s more lyrics-driven, wants nothing to do with the tech.

— Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2026

Definition of messed around

Verb

Since then, he’s kicked around with HAIM while turning one third of its Los Angelino triumvirate, Alana Haim, into a screen actress.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
Every single night, through that winter, spring and summer, Caldwell and Rothstein kicked around potential game situations and ideas for how to approach them.

— Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of kicked around

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fooled

fooled around

fooled (with)

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“Fooled around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fooled%20around. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of fooled around

verb

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