1
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
spent the vacation day just messing around
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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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But questions remain about whether will decide to play elsewhere or close the chapter on his storied career.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
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Allen plays Roxie, a dying wife and mother who arrives in the trauma bay during the show’s second season.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
17 June 2026
Verb
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The vampire at the center of Rice’s beloved novels has flirted with music before.—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
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After nearly half a century of flirting with direct conflict, the United States finally went to war with Iran.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, other matter is channeled to the poles of the black hole, from where it is blasted away as high-energy plasma jets travelling at near-light speeds.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
14 June 2026
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The other driver, in a 2022 Ram F550, was traveling westbound and collided with the side of the Kia, police said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 June 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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The tattoo of a Totenkopf, the death’s head emblem associated with Nazi concentration camp guards?—
Megan McArdle,
Washington Post,
14 June 2026
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But the attack ads and political endorsements generally associated with running for other offices have started showing up in judicial races, alarming some judges and raising questions about whether candidates who engage in such activity have the right temperament for the job.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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President James Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau, died by hanging about five months after he was convicted of murder.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
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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
Verb
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Serna, who lives in Westlake near the project area and is not running for re-election, has been openly supportive of the project and urged Smith at the beginning of the presentation to try to answer questions that had come up over the past 8-1/2 years about the project.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
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Challenge ahead Jackson’s victory was powered by a coalition of suburban and exurban Republicans attracted to his promise to run government like a business.—
Greg Bluestein,
AJC.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Husband and wife duo Cristina Marzolf and Matthew Marzolf, both 25, had been kicking around the concept of Press’d Cafe and Lounge, a family-friendly tropical escape that sells smoothies, juices and food for years.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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Calgary Flames forward Ryan Strome, a veteran of 916 games, doesn’t kick around with his teammates.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20around. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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