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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to kill time
to spend time doing nothing
returned home unannounced and found the au pair goofing off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to fumble
to make a mistake
we must have goofed up somewhere, because this cake clearly didn't turn out right
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to blow
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
he goofed up his first sale at the dealership
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goof (around)
Noun
-
Boomers saw Gen Xers, that’s me, as cynical slackers.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
30 Dec. 2025 -
This film is set days after Christmas and follows three slacker friends who are hired to transport a troubled teen across the country.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In July, Nike brought in a new chief executive officer for Converse, which has been somewhat of an underachiever in terms of its revenue contribution to the company over the years.—
Jennie Bell,
Footwear News,
30 Dec. 2025
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The film stars Vince Vaughn as Peter LaFleur, a charismatic underachiever and proprietor of a rundown gym called Average Joe’s, and Ben Stiller as White Goodman, the power-mullet-sporting, Fu-Manchu-d, egomaniacal owner of Globo Gym, a gleaming monolith of fitness.—
Caitlin White,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
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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 13 Jan. 2026.
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