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
Morgan had been messing around with a curveball, but didn’t actually throw it until a workout at Petco Park a week before the draft.
—
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Soon afterward, however, at a Red Bull event in Austria, Goepper began messing around on a quarterpipe.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
The Italian heritage brand Frette does not mess around with luxury.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 7 Feb. 2026
In the email, Dixon suggested that the fire department employee may have messed around with the department's equipment.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess around
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Soon afterward, however, at a Red Bull event in Austria, Goepper began messing around on a quarterpipe.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
The Italian heritage brand Frette does not mess around with luxury.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 7 Feb. 2026
In the email, Dixon suggested that the fire department employee may have messed around with the department's equipment.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mess around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess around
Verb
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But Lemann, to her credit, does not play this for laughs.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
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The two entered having played together in only 17 games this season, for a total of 249 minutes.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The long-running series is enjoying its latest act on Netflix after previously airing on Fox and USA, tantalizing viewers by thrusting four couples due for a reckoning into an exotic locale overflowing with sultry singles whose only goal is to flirt.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
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Tatum flirted with a triple-double, totaling 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in 40 minutes.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Under-4s are also welcome to use the Kids Only facilities with adult supervision, and all kinds of baby products and equipment are provided so parents can travel light.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
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Police said it was believed the driver initiated the right turn and hit the bicyclist, a 69-year-old man from Joliet, believed to have been traveling eastbound on the sidewalk on the south side of West Jefferson Street and had entered the roadway to cross Springfield Avenue.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And this fool is taking it with the fools around him.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
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And there’s this: No fooling around in mid-June and having a life event get in the way of the March Madness get-together nine months later.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That can help with weight loss, which is associated with reducing hot flashes and night sweats.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
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For one project, Cohen tried to disrupt a protein associated with insulin resistance and diabetes.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Chavez, who once ran a ketamine clinic, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and was sentenced to eight months home confinement in December 2025.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Charlotte Knight came in to run for Richey and Taylor Higgins reached on a fielder’s choice that moved Knight to third.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Though the sisters are supposedly first-generation Italian American, no whiff of the old country hangs about Kay; Dorothy will at least spit out a few words in Italian.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Turquoise pearl, and azure line the space, and a cylindrical hanging light sculpture made of hundreds of white and gold ceramic fish hangs about the lounge seating area.—
Kristin Braswell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Don’t be afraid to ask, because working together is one of the best ways to bond with someone.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Fox plays Gerry on the show, a Parkinson’s patient who bonds with Ford’s character Paul, who is also diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.—
Alex Cramer,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20around. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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