1
as in to debate
to give serious and careful thought to
the board spent the afternoon kicking around the feasibility of opening an overseas office
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
I really can't do much but kick around at work until I get the rest of the submissions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill time
to spend time doing nothing
spent the afternoon kicking around, while his wife bought out the mall
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4
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
after spending a year in Europe kicking around, the backpacker was ready to return home
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to abuse
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
children who were raised by an alcoholic father who regularly kicked them around
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kick around
In one form or another, the idea has been kicking around for decades, but Stardust has taken it a major—some might say terrifying—step forward.
—
Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
Last week, the Sixers started kicking around the idea of having George back in the mix soon.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
One idea some appropriators are kicking around is a December funding deadline, but not one that bumps against Christmas, as has become standard.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
So of course, there’s things kicking around in my head with this show.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kick around
Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
Last week, the Sixers started kicking around the idea of having George back in the mix soon.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
One idea some appropriators are kicking around is a December funding deadline, but not one that bumps against Christmas, as has become standard.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
So of course, there’s things kicking around in my head with this show.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kick around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick around
Verb
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While sleep is seen across the animal kingdom, its purpose is still debated.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Jan. 2026
-
How to watch Texas senate candidates debate The one-hour debate is hosted by Nexstar Media Group, which owns KXAN.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The administration is playing a blame game over the initial characterization of Pretti, Axios reports.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Dak already has shot past the championship game deadline in that no other quarterback has ever begun his career with a team and played 10 seasons without reaching the NFC or AFC title game, then reached a Super Bowl with that team later in his career.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Visitors can see the festival's namesake ostriches up close in a viewing area where the birds can roam around.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Yet, these sleek, wild, predator cats roam the foothills and mountains from Ventura to San Diego, slipping in and out of millions of backyards and dozens of local canyons mostly unseen, except for those fuzzy images captured by trail cameras and home surveillance videos.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said Kayode Agbolade Ogunba allegedly abused patients at a local care home.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The victim-survivor in this case was not the only child Weberman abused.—
Guila Benchimol,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While Antetokounmpo has spent his entire 12-year career in Milwaukee and led the franchise to its first NBA championship in a half century, the team could be more willing than ever to entertain offers that would return considerable compensation to the Bucks.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Family-friendly cruises offer plenty to keep the kids entertained—think rock climbing, mini golf, pickle ball, aqua parks, and more at no extra cost.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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Gisin hopes that by fooling around with measurements of these more exotic states, physicists will come to better understand the role of measurement in general.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Her third album, which is self-titled, is a document of wandering.—
Marissa Lorusso,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
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This meant that the MQ-20 could fly aggressively without the danger of wandering into restricted civilian airspace or high-threat corridors.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the new documents show that the school has been contemplating the possibility of a move for more than a year.—
Ben Bolch,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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After contemplating very deeply and carefully for many long hours attempting to discern a plausible alternative explanation for the rhetoric and the policies, what is the only thing that a reasonable person can conclude?—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kick around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20around. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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