Thesaurus results for HORSING AROUND

horsing around 1 of 2

noun

as in monkeyshine(s)

wildly playful or mischievous behavior at the beach there was a lot more horsing around on the sand than actual swimming in the water

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horsing around

2 of 2

verb

present participle of horse around

as in cutting up

to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior the boys were horsing around on the boat when one of them fell overboard

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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 horsing around

Verb

Also, don’t get too out of control horsing around with friends in the water. — John Natale, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026 After horsing around, peruse the quilt displays, agriculture exhibits and arts-and-crafts competitions. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 4 Aug. 2026 Bevel was horsing around with the Reverend James Orange and Andy Young in the courtyard under King's balcony, according to Orange. — Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026 In April 2020, Iglesias shared a video of him horsing around with Lucy and Nicholas as the pair attempted to climb on his back for a ride. — Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for horsing around

Noun

But this was no monkey business April Fool’s joke.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026
Barnett was the second Mississippi resident to take the monkey business into their own hands.

— Bracey Harris, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025

Definition of monkey business

Verb

One reason being that the videographer kept cutting up [a slab of] meat for the castle owner.

— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2026
Cut the half into thin wedges by making ½-inch slices lengthwise through the onion, cutting up to, but not through, the root end.

— Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of cutting up

Noun

Arch Manning's joking comments at a news conference about a fake video of coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted in controversy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Indeed, at lunch, instead of separating into groups to eat, all 16 participants form one mega table and spend the half-hour joking and laughing together.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of joking

Verb

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
The transition was rough for Ansari, who wasn’t fluent in English and often got in trouble for fooling around in school.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026

Definition of fooling around

Verb

Quarterbacks have been the story at midseason, with teams passing a lot more and quarterbacks showing off their ability to run and pass.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Pasha finds a nice balance of showing off Amber’s athleticism and her flexibility.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of showing off

Noun

The undefeated South Dakota Coyotes prowled into Albertsons Stadium this weekend and turned what could have been an evening of horseplay for the Broncos into a dogfight.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2026
The device’s user manual also warns it should not be used in response to verbal defiance, or for punishment, torture or horseplay.

— Ryan J. Foley, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of horseplay

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horsewomen

horsing around

hortative

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“Horsing around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horsing%20around. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of horsing around

noun

verb

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