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
The Lakers weren’t messing around during the film sessions or practices.
—
Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Crusty on the outside and gooey on the inside, this sandwich doesn't mess around.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
While the directors mess around with genre in each chapter and the cast differs from story to story, the six narratives are given a sense of consistency courtesy of the unique Coen voice.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Following the global success of The Housemaid, Lionsgate is not messing around with its upcoming sequel.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess around
Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Crusty on the outside and gooey on the inside, this sandwich doesn't mess around.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
While the directors mess around with genre in each chapter and the cast differs from story to story, the six narratives are given a sense of consistency courtesy of the unique Coen voice.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Following the global success of The Housemaid, Lionsgate is not messing around with its upcoming sequel.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess around
Verb
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Sometimes there would be groups of young men along the sidewalks by the entrance to the pool, playing a game with coins thrown against a wall.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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More screen time is given over to her burgeoning friendship with firebrand suffragette Mary, played by singer Lily Allen in a deliberately anachronistic performance — her forthright speech and manner beamed in directly from the 21st century.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
3 June 2026
Verb
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France might be an adamantly secular state, but its pastry shops like to flirt with religion.—
Jen Rose Smith,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
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Several politicians have publicly flirted with the idea of running for the office in recent months.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Potter said the whole goal behind Thrifty Traveler is to help show people how to travel more for less.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
-
But soft bananas don’t travel well.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Another horny couple on vacation couldn’t wait until their flight landed to fool around and insisted on doing so in the plane's cabin.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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And this fool is taking it with the fools around him.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Whole genome sequencing linked his illness to the outbreak strain associated with The Kebab Shop beef kofta, according to the lawsuit.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
Animals commonly associated with rabies include skunks, foxes, coyotes and raccoons.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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My father was running the skid steer outside, clearing the snow, leaving dirty white mounds to either side of the driveway that led from the house out to the range road.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) will advance to the general election to run America’s second-most-populous city, the Associated Press projected early Wednesday, as Republican reality TV star Spencer Pratt led the challengers vying to compete against her in November.—
Hannah Knowles,
Washington Post,
3 June 2026
Verb
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On Monday, May 18, a 7%-illuminated crescent will hang about two degrees from Venus, with Jupiter about 20 degrees above.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
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The plush beds have new headboards, tapestries by local artist Elena Carozzi now hang about the beds, bespoke wardrobes and minibars were created in dark wood and straw, and the bathrooms have been redone in green Cipollino marble.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The group hosted its first informal gathering this weekend, a Memorial Day barbecue where residents bonded over card games, birdwatching, water balloons and data center concerns.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
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Both youngsters, though, have bonded during their short time together.—
Mike Kaye
May 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20around. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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