mess around

verb

Definition of mess aroundnext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mess around Lego isn't messing around, as there are eight all-new Lego Star Wars sets already available, which launched a few days ahead of the event on April 26. — Paul Brett, Space.com, 30 Apr. 2026 From waterproof eye makeup to long-wearing lip stains, this cleansing balm doesn’t mess around. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Apr. 2026 The Thunder don’t want to mess around. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026 The Lakers weren’t messing around during the film sessions or practices. — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mess around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess around
  1. play
  2. flirt
  3. travel
  4. fool around
  5. associate
  6. hang about
  7. run
  8. kick around
Verb
  • The bridge — which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario — was named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe who played for the Detroit Red Wings, symbolizing the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
  • Starling Marte moved over to right field and Isaac Collins came in to play left field.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Definition of play
Verb
  • But that winning record masks the fact that this Argentina team has flirted with elimination on more than one occasion.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • That might seem counterintuitive, at a time when the stock market has been flirting with record highs.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Definition of flirt
Verb
  • Stories about Chin traveled through Kerrville as quickly as the floodwaters.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, who are still recovering from long-term injuries, are set to travel and continue their rehab in the States.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of travel
Verb
  • 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
  • Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Definition of fool around
Verb
  • Coach James Ramsey announced Wednesday that pitching coach Matt Taylor was promoted to associate head coach, with assistant Josh Schulman named the team’s new recruiting coordinator.
    — Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
  • The department has reportedly been conducting a sweep of construction sites associated with contractors working on the Pfizer building.
    — Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026
Definition of associate
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of hang about
Verb
  • England went ahead of Argentina in the 55th minute of their semifinal, but Messi found another gear and set up both late goals to break England’s hearts and keep Argentina’s run alive.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
  • Kennedy, who was running for president as an independent at the time, even appeared on the red carpet for the show’s final season premiere in 2024.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 July 2026
Definition of run
Verb
  • Within the venue gates but outside the stands, groups of friends were playing cornhole and having picnic dinners from food trucks parked onsite; older attendees were chatting and kids were kicking around mini soccer balls.
    — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
  • Some of the finer moments for Nemes in the studio were during rehearsals, when the band was just kicking around ideas and jamming.
    — Tina Eves, SPIN, 1 July 2026
Definition of kick around

Browse Nearby Words

messaging
mess around
messed
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Cite this Entry

“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20around. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of mess around for Spanish Speakers

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