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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Schwarber’s first home run traveled 456 feet, while his second blast of the third inning measured 457 feet off Mets reliever Cionel Pérez.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2026
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Belief traveled sideways, not down.—
Julie Averill,
Forbes.com,
20 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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What about a legal right for AIs to freely access the public internet (the right to information); or a legal right for AIs to interact with other AIs (the right to associate); or a legal right to some minimum amount of computing power (the right to necessary resources)?—
Rob Toews,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
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Governed by the ever-changing moon — associated with emotions, memory, intuition and our most basic needs — this Water sign governs our emotional world, family ties and deepest instincts.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
21 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 24 Jun. 2026.
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