1
as in played
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 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
as in associated
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 messed around
In the email, Dixon suggested that the fire department employee may have messed around with the department's equipment.
—
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed around
Verb
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Biel, who played so well in 2025 Charlotte FC brought him back on permanent transfer in 2026, received a pass from Ashley Westwood on a set play and fired a shot into the back of the net.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Mar. 2026
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The two teams played their Class 6A Division ll girls state championship basketball game at the Alamodome in San Antonio on March 7, 2026.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jayson Tatum kick-started Boston with a strong first quarter in his second game back from Achilles surgery, and co-star Jaylen Brown flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 109-98 at Rocket Arena.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
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Antetokounmpo wasn't the only Milwaukee player who flirted with a triple-double.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Another consequence of this motion, sometimes referred to as the precession of the equinoxes, is that today the constellations of the zodiac no longer align with the traditional dates associated with them.—
Vahe Peroomian,
The Conversation,
5 Mar. 2026
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Online discussion centered on third-party lab results showing relatively high linoleic acid levels in egg yolks, which critics associated with corn- and soy-based feed.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 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
Verb
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The trip holds serious symbolism for the couple, who last traveled to Australia just five months after their royal nuptials.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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Trade increased, and mail traveled quicker between the countries.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The fuse was apparently connected to an M80-type firework, according to CBS News.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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Asbille's character reportedly died of cancer, which is believed to be connected to a toxic waste dump located near a mine on the Broken Rock Reservation.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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According to the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office, the camera was hooked up to other devices.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Sure, lots of people have laser printers hooked up to their computers.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Reverse-creaming is the secret to tender cakes Reverse creaming is a technique in which dry ingredients are mixed with butter prior to adding any wet ingredients.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 Mar. 2026
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The Weitzmans wore the pink Messi jerseys, while Gonzalez and his friends mixed the Argentina and blue-and-red jerseys of FC Barcelona, Messi’s European club.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messed around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed%20around. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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