messed around

past tense of mess around
1
2
as in flirted
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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed around
Verb
  • McAvoy and Lindholm played just 50 and 17 games, respectively; Brandon Carlo got dealt to division rival Toronto; Zadorov never quite lived up to his beefy new deal; and youngster Lohrei struggled with too heavy of a load too soon as the carnage unfolded around him.
    Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The unconventional thriller played like gangbusters to the buzzing New York crowd.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Tyreek Hill flirted with becoming the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiver twice (2022 and 2023).
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Lucas has gone a step further and flirted with a potential run himself.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Once primarily associated with suits and boardroom attire, the slim trouser took on a more seductive and idiosyncratic attitude this season on the runways of trendsetting brands like Prada, Dries Van Noten, and Khaite.
    Christina Holevas, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Corse, 80, is a pioneering artist associated with the Light and Space movement, noted for her work in painting.
    Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The coffee shop has become a go-to for far east side Detroiters who have long traveled to neighboring Grosse Pointe for a nearby caffeine fix.
    Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Laura Hern’s mom even traveled to Kentucky from out of state to check on her daughter, court filings state, but Tyler Hern didn’t open the door.
    Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Rents will run from $1,500 for studios to $3,400 for three-bedroom units, according to the release.
    Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The trailer’s modular design allows researchers, aid organizations, and even event organizers to adapt the trailer to their needs, regardless of whether for charging equipment, powering lights and communication devices, or running refrigeration systems.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Guerrero, in the first inning, connected for a towering fly ball to left field.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Over the years, Ludwinski said she’s connected with people at Zingerman’s who helped with questions about business challenges.
    Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The group kicked around a bunch of names.
    Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Other ideas kicked around over the years have been subsidized housing or even returning it to its history of entertainment, as a high-end theater and performing arts academy.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Two or three times a week, the group would incorporate extra conditioning using stationary bikes hooked up to oxygen.
    Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • And Valentina — like many fans — not understanding why the couple have not hooked up is what makes the interaction so hilarious.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Messed around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed%20around. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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