1
as in plays
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 flirts
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 travels
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 messes around
Other standouts include a Maybelline mascara and a Black and Decker handheld vacuum, which makes quick work of small messes around the house and in the car.
—
Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messes around
Verb
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At sunset its Amina Muaddi slingbacks, when honeymooners head to the bar to make the most of the martini shots while a could-be-a-model DJ plays cool and breezy beats in a midriff-bearing top.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
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And the company’s focus on wellness plays well in a state that was at the center of the health food movement in the 1960s and 1970s.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
Verb
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From time to time the thermometer flirts with 70.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
7 May 2026
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Surrounded by honeymooners, June tries (and flirts) to reclaim her joie de vivre, while Lela is deep in the dark.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The affordable passenger train travels between all five mountainous villages in Italy’s Cinque Terre region, running from spring until late fall.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 June 2026
-
The Strait of Hormuz, through which travels one-fifth of the world’s oil, remains closed.—
Matt Ott,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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The third vessel, for example, contains circular discs symbolizing water, which Chan associates with rebirth.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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In practical terms, that means Forest now associates humans with food and safety, the opposite of what a wild deer needs to survive.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kimbo also hooks up a standard electrical system with 2-kWh, 12-V lithium battery, 240-W Renogy solar panel setup, integrated wiring and shore power hookup.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Mar. 2026
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Nike consistently hooks up the University of Oregon‘s athletic programs with exclusive sneakers because of their longstanding relationship, and the newest spoils to emerge come via Nike’s most futuristic new basketball sneaker.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Over the past two centuries, soccer – or football, as it is called in much of the English-speaking world – has become a truly global phenomenon that connects fans on all continents.—
Thomas Adam,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
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The platform connects hirers with more than 21 million job seekers each month and 80% of companies that post on ZipRecruiter report receiving a quality candidate within one day.—
Audrey Payne,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The Pennsylvania native made her TV acting debut on the HBO hit as Faye, the adrift addict who bonds with Fezco (the late Angus Cloud) and later Rue (Zendaya), after previously establishing herself in adult films, with creator Sam Levinson casting her directly.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
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Potter starred in the film as Carin Fisher, a fellow student whom Patch bonds with.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
Verb
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Though the sisters are supposedly first-generation Italian American, no whiff of the old country hangs about Kay; Dorothy will at least spit out a few words in Italian.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Messes around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes%20around. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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