1
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
spent the vacation day just messing around
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to flirt
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun
a guy who goes to the health club mainly to mess around with the women
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to travel
to come or be together as friends
if you continue to mess around with such narrow-minded boobs, you'll begin to think and act like them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mess around
In the email, Dixon suggested that the fire department employee may have messed around with the department's equipment.
—
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
The new rule of thumb when prognosticating about the NBA trade deadline is to never say never — Luka Doncic is a Los Angeles Laker now — but the Nuggets are just too good to mess around with their playoff rotation over a tax bill.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Skechers Cleo Taylor Loafers Comfortable shoes can make or break a travel day, and Aura doesn’t mess around.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
Other standouts include a Maybelline mascara and a Black and Decker handheld vacuum, which makes quick work of small messes around the house and in the car.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess around
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
The new rule of thumb when prognosticating about the NBA trade deadline is to never say never — Luka Doncic is a Los Angeles Laker now — but the Nuggets are just too good to mess around with their playoff rotation over a tax bill.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Skechers Cleo Taylor Loafers Comfortable shoes can make or break a travel day, and Aura doesn’t mess around.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
Other standouts include a Maybelline mascara and a Black and Decker handheld vacuum, which makes quick work of small messes around the house and in the car.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess around
Verb
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How to play Mega Millions Player can pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers — five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Mall).—
Tanya Wildt,
Freep.com,
4 Mar. 2026
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Bilodeau has scored in double figures in 26 of 28 games played, totaling 20 points or more nine times.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Retired news anchor Eliott Rodriguez has also flirted with a run.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
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The clash unfolds with comedic innuendos as both models inadvertently start to flirt with the same man, Charlie, the owner of the location where the photoshoot for the brand takes place.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Adirondack is a daily train that runs between New York City and Montreal, traveling 381 miles over 11 hours.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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An autopsy shows all three shots fired by Stevens hit Martinez, with bullets traveling through his left arm before entering his torso and piercing his heart, lungs, liver and other organs.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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So, there's an awful lot at play in this war in addition to just the tragedy associated with those that are -- those that are dying.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
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In fact, reducing irrigation frequency and improving drainage is a great chemical-free way to combat weed problems associated with excess soil moisture.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The cabinet changes come on the heels of both a political pact, recently signed by parties with the prime minister, and the launching of the registration process for those seeking to run candidates in the next elections.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
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In the Democratic primary, Amy Martinez-Salas, a legal assistant and UT Arlington alumna, is running uncontested.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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The hot air just hangs about, causing the dish to cook unevenly with some spots nearly raw and others burnt.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Spring break at home can be a fantastic opportunity for families to have fun and bond through creative activities.—
Nicole Harris,
Parents,
5 Mar. 2026
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The play allows Radcliffe, a deeply private celebrity, to bond with fans on his own terms.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20around. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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