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

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

These folks aren’t messing around; everyone is willing to shell out for the best possible experience. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026

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