1
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
spent the vacation day just messing around
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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For tour this time around, Pillsbury is looking forward to playing larger venues, which offer space for grander production.
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The elder Moniak, now 86, played six seasons in the Red Sox farm system from 1958-63, and like Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, was among the young outfielders who benefited from the tutelage of a special batting instructor named Ted Williams at spring training ‘61-63.
Verb
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Lake Superior Court Judge Samuel Cappas sentenced a Chicago man to 76 years Thursday for gunning down a friend who was flirting with his girlfriend online.
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While the Penguins have been financially stable since 2007, when it was announced that a new building had been approved, the franchise has filed for bankruptcy multiple times and flirted with leaving for other cities on numerous occasions.
Verb
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The suspect, an adult male, wore all black and traveled on a scooter.
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For those unable to attend games at Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium, the free-to-enter festival offers local and traveling spectators a place to gather during the World Cup.
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.
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And this fool is taking it with the fools around him.
Verb
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One of the stops captured in police body camera video shows local officers talking about targeting work vans for ICE — vehicles associated with construction, landscaping and other industries reliant on immigrant labor.
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Yet despite his later involvement in politics, McCloskey remains most closely associated with the confrontation that unfolded outside his home in June 2020.
Verb
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President James Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau, died by hanging about five months after he was convicted of murder.
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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.
Verb
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The couple's Jeep Compass was still running and the fan was on high, however, the air conditioning wasn't working, according to authorities.
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Rodrigo Carmona, who runs the juice and snack spot with his wife and son, simply kept it.
Verb
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Clear skies are in the forecast for the next few days as temperatures kick around the upper 90s.
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All told, it’s been a pretty spectacular and drama-free rollout for an idea that had been kicking around Hollywood for over 15 years.
Cite this Entry
“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20around. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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