Synonyms of mess around

mess around

verb

1

as in to play

to spend time in aimless activity

spent the vacation day just messing around

Synonyms & Similar Words

• play
• fool around
• goof (around)
• fiddle (around)
• hang about
• putter (around)
• potter (around)
• monkey (around)
• kick around
• doodle
• fribble
• trifle
• hang (around or out)
• lounge
• horse around
• clown (around)
• idle
• loaf
• dawdle
• diddle (with)
• tinker
• loll
• dillydally
• dally

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• set (to)
• settle (down)
• buckle (down)
• knuckle down

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

• flirt
• toy
• trifle
• coquet
• play (with)
• put on
• lead on
• woo
• frivol
• vamp
• fool
• string along
• tease
• court
• mash
• dally
• rib
• kid
• manipulate
• razz
• josh

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

• travel
• associate
• hang (around or out)
• run
• bond
• connect
• hook up
• mix
• join
• collaborate
• pal (around)
• rub shoulders (with)
• take up with
• company
• relate
• fall in with
• mingle
• sort
• rub elbows (with)
• keep company (with)
• befriend
• consort
• fraternize
• cooperate
• consociate
• get along
• friend
• be friends with
• get on
• chum
• rally
• tie
• club
• hobnob
• link
• attach
• couple
• group
• affiliate
• side
• ally
• team
• knot
• socialize
• league
• gang
• confederate
• band
• interrelate
• collude
• conjoin
• wed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoid
• shun
• split (up)
• snub
• alienate
• break up
• cold-shoulder
• disperse
• split
• disband
• sever
• divorce
• estrange
• dissociate
• disunite
• disjoin
• sunder

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mess around

Both of France’s sons seem to appreciate imaginative play over messing around with action figures, something that makes perfect sense given France’s own love for the arts. — Marah Eakin, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Take note at the point in a song when the real dancers stop messing around. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Shortly after Bednar began messing around with a splitter, Eric Junge, San Diego’s pitching coordinator, informed him that Hideo Nomo had arrived in camp. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Gifted great field position again, the Buffs didn’t mess around — or get cute. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Sep. 2026