mess around

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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

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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 Apple iPad Deals Apple, its iPads, and its discounts don't mess around. Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 May 2025 Our season got canceled, obviously, and just had some free time to kind of mess around and enjoy the game again and not really worry about the stress of professional baseball. Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025 That means companies like his will need to be prepared to take some responsibility when agents cause harm—even when a kid messing around with an agent might be to blame. Paresh Dave, Wired News, 22 May 2025 Between filming, the kids would mess around and explore the soundstages, playing capture the flag and hide-and-seek in the famed Chamber of Secrets and other notable locations on set. Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for mess around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess around
Verb
  • The Liberty were overpowered by a refreshed Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever squad while playing shorthanded without Jonquel Jones.
    Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
  • Checking these crooked politicians who ain’t playing fair/ Shut up!
    Anna Chan, Billboard, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Cardamom takes over the second verse, rhyming in a mesh of languages in a video which stars him and HAB flirting and dancing around with Queen of Katwe star Lupita Nyong’o.
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025
  • Running back With Mallory already committed to UM but flirting with Alabama, the Canes could end up adding two other backs.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Located within the downtown area, anchor your stay by parking your car (free of charge) and traveling on foot to explore shops, the farmers market, and restaurants.
    Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
  • Portnoy recalls traveling with her husband to four different medical institutions after a year of misdiagnosis.
    Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Those have come from two players: Adrian Morejon of the San Diego Padres, who throws an odd knuckleball-changeup hybrid about 1 percent of the time, and Jonah Bride of the Minnesota Twins, an infielder fooling around with the knuckler in blowouts.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • As Molly and Guy start to fool around, things get hot and heavy, but Ernie has a job to do.
    Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • One finger is purple, which is the devil fruit most commonly associated with Luffy, while other similar designs are sapphire blue, rose pink, and bright orange.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 June 2025
  • Parades, speeches, picnics, time with our families and fireworks are events commonly associated with the Fourth of July.
    Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • One of France’s oldest greenways, the lakeside route runs nearly 20 miles along the western shore between Annecy and Val de Chaise.
    Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2025
  • Schnall, the first-year head coach who has led Coastal Carolina to a program-record 56 wins, ran toward home plate to confront Campos.
    Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Sizes Tablecloths should hang about 8-16 inches on each side for formal dining and about 3-6 inches on each side for casual dining.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 10 June 2025
  • Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.
    Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Discovering and bonding with like-minded people in the art community helped Saldana face moments of loneliness.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 June 2025
  • Aaron and his father, Michael Campbell, bonded over traveling to baseball games and getting autographs from their favorite players.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20around. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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