1
as in horses around
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
quit fooling around on the jungle gym, or you'll get hurt
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2
as in plays
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fools around
Verb
-
This creates a pocket of space, into which Wharton plays the ball perfectly.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025 -
When properly taken care of, your gut plays an important role in reducing your risk of colorectal cancer.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams shows off some Taco Bell goodies.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Next to the arm, an ankle — where Umansky is tagged — shows off a tattoo with four thin black lines.—
Emy LaCroix,
People.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The kid acts up, the dad disciplines him and mom just sends a sorry text.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
22 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Fools around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fools%20around. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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