fooled around

verb

past tense of fool around
1
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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2
as in played
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 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
  1. cut up
  2. played
  3. showed off
  4. messed around
  5. acted up
  6. kicked around
Verb
  • The director planned to film the killing of a live donkey, which would be cut up for food by actors portraying laborers.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • Unusual colorways and short production runs contribute to rarity, and uncut original lengths are prized, since most bolts have been cut up and used.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
Definition of cut up
Verb
  • The bridge — which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario — was named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe who played for the Detroit Red Wings, symbolizing the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
  • Wallack’s critique was echoed by former Beach Commissioner Saul Gross, a real estate investor who has played a significant role in Art Deco district preservation and whose Streamline Properties is on Washington.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Definition of played
Verb
  • Norway’s star striker Erling Haaland, one of soccer’s most fashionable gents, showed off his namesake Breitling at a post-Cup reception in his home country.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 July 2026
  • Paulina Porizkova’s sons showed off their musical talents at her wedding to Jeff Greenstein.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 18 July 2026
Definition of showed off
Verb
  • 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
  • In the email, Dixon suggested that the fire department employee may have messed around with the department's equipment.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of messed around
Verb
  • And of course, Peterson not playing would have made some wonder if the McDonald’s All-American’s hamstring had acted up again.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Dec. 2025
Definition of acted up
Verb
  • No balls were kicked around, but a first impression was made about a pitch that’s cropped tighter than a Pebble Beach fairway yet in impressive shape after four games over 11 days.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
  • Near a door leading to a loading dock, a group of players on the host Vegas Golden Knights — including forward Mitch Marner, who went on to score a regulation hat trick in a 5-4 win — stood in a circle and kicked around a soccer ball.
    — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 8 June 2026
Definition of kicked around

Browse Nearby Words

fooled
fooled around
fooled (with)
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Cite this Entry

“Fooled around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fooled%20around. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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