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
Given another chance, the Cubs did not wait around until spring training or mess around with a team-friendly offer, hoping that Bregman and his agent, Scott Boras, would eventually run out of options and settle for a below-market deal.
—
Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Miami’s defense isn’t messing around The Hurricanes defense has rattled Julian Sayin.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
For wireless performance that doesn’t mess around, this one really earns its price tag.
—PC Magazine, 3 Dec. 2025
A couple dozen Kumamoto oysters, 20% off, and shipped fresh by the reputable folks at Fulton Street Fish Market (don’t mess around with sketchy online seafood delivery) will bring their subtle creaminess to my festivities this winter.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mess around
Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Miami’s defense isn’t messing around The Hurricanes defense has rattled Julian Sayin.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
For wireless performance that doesn’t mess around, this one really earns its price tag.
—PC Magazine, 3 Dec. 2025
A couple dozen Kumamoto oysters, 20% off, and shipped fresh by the reputable folks at Fulton Street Fish Market (don’t mess around with sketchy online seafood delivery) will bring their subtle creaminess to my festivities this winter.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mess around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess around
Verb
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The administration is playing a blame game over the initial characterization of Pretti, Axios reports.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Dak already has shot past the championship game deadline in that no other quarterback has ever begun his career with a team and played 10 seasons without reaching the NFC or AFC title game, then reached a Super Bowl with that team later in his career.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Since winning World Series in 1987 and 1991, the Twins have really only flirted with postseason relevance.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
23 Jan. 2026
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This isn't the first time Kardashian has flirted with a retro aesthetic.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Although many in the crowd were his constituents, some people traveled hours to show their support.—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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In many international markets, direct-to-consumer pricing does not travel well.—
Kolawole Samuel Adebayo,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Not too long ago, artificial intelligence was more or less a science project in which data scientists and developers fooled around with one-off small or test projects.—
Joe McKendrick,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Gisin hopes that by fooling around with measurements of these more exotic states, physicists will come to better understand the role of measurement in general.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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A day after Good was killed, a Border Patrol agent in Portland, Oregon, shot and injured two people, who authorities said were associated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
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Weir, along with Jerry Garcia, formed the band in Palo Alto in 1965, but is best-associated with San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Indu and Mahipal run a Hindu monastery, or ashram, in India called Hanslok that was founded by Mahipal’s father.—
Bernadette Toh,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
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Most of the other candidates lacked play-calling experience in the NFL, outside of Harris, Martindale, Lions assistant Jim O’Neil and Packers run game coordinator Demarcus Covington.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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The hot air just hangs about, causing the dish to cook unevenly with some spots nearly raw and others burnt.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Still, Shiffrin and Kilde were able to bond amid their pain.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
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The Chi, created by Lena Waithe, revolves around a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20around. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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