messed around

verb

past tense of mess around
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

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 messed around Dragstrem, who focuses more on production, has messed around with it but was left unsatisfied; McGill, who’s more lyrics-driven, wants nothing to do with the tech. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed around
  1. played
  2. flirted
  3. associated
  4. fooled around
  5. traveled
  6. kicked around
  7. connected
  8. hooked up
Verb
  • Haiti became the first team in FIFA history to qualify without having played one game at home due to gangs’ takeover of its national stadium and the violence in Port-au-Prince.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • Julian Dennison stars as the troubled Ricky Baker, a kid who ends up on the run with an irascible old man, played by Sam Neill.
    — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Definition of played
Verb
  • The most recent season also revealed that Wilson flirted with Miller throughout the summer, raising her hopes for a possible reconciliation, only to hook up with her best friend months later.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 8 July 2026
  • The stock's trading just under $200, a level it's flirted with since late last month, down 17% from its May record and up just 4% on the year, as investors have turned their attention to other AI components, like the memory-makers.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of flirted
Verb
  • Typically, El Niño is associated with wetter-than-normal conditions during the winter in Southern California.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • By triggering the release of a natural growth factor in the brain and modulating neural pathways associated with addiction and reward, ibogaine restores healthy dopamine function and reduces cravings, Barsuglia said.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of associated
Verb
  • 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
Definition of fooled around
Verb
  • In the past years, many French people have traveled to neighboring countries where medically assisted suicide or euthanasia is legal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026
  • Argentina also ranks first for corners from the right that traveled to the near edge of the six-yard box with 10, six more than any other team.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of traveled
Verb
  • No balls were kicked around, but a first impression was made about a pitch that’s cropped tighter than a Pebble Beach fairway yet in impressive shape after four games over 11 days.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
  • Near a door leading to a loading dock, a group of players on the host Vegas Golden Knights — including forward Mitch Marner, who went on to score a regulation hat trick in a 5-4 win — stood in a circle and kicked around a soccer ball.
    — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 8 June 2026
Definition of kicked around
Verb
  • Do resigned and admitted to stealing millions in discretionary funds meant to help seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic, instead directing the money to a nonprofit connected to him, according to an LAist report.
    — Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
  • The Hightower family is closely connected with the worship of the Seven, the predominant faith of Westeros, and Ormund seems to be a model believer.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026
Definition of connected
Verb
  • Hernandez also hooked up with Airbnb for a hilarious World Cup collaboration.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
  • The Elora electrical system is built atop a 5-kWh EcoFlow battery hooked up to EcoFLow's 5-in-1 PowerHub with inverter and 200 watts of solar charging.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026
Definition of hooked up

Browse Nearby Words

messed
messed around
messed over
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Cite this Entry

“Messed around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed%20around. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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