as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
we've been goofing around long enough; it's time to get some real work done
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goof (around)
Verb
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Last season, Johnson played in 17 games, including eight starts, after All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson missed time with a Lisfranc injury.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026 -
Coach Charles Lee only had to play LaMelo Ball for an efficient 23 minutes, and Ball finished with 20 points and eight assists.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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Bella Ramsey takes a break from killing zombies and avenging father figures, their usual pastimes in series The Last of Us, to fool around and fall in love in Sunny Dancer, a decidedly uneven but fitfully charming, YA-skewed British comedy-drama.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Though the sisters are supposedly first-generation Italian American, no whiff of the old country hangs about Kay; Dorothy will at least spit out a few words in Italian.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Turquoise pearl, and azure line the space, and a cylindrical hanging light sculpture made of hundreds of white and gold ceramic fish hangs about the lounge seating area.—
Kristin Braswell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Detroit Tigers didn’t mess around this winter, adding top starting pitcher Framber Valdez to pair with two-time defending AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal atop the club’s rotation.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
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So, get ready to travel to Sweden for a taste of adolescence full of smiles, tears, dancing, messing around – and skateboards.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Goof (around).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goof%20%28around%29. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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