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
As far as home finds, pick up this fall-scented candle and a lightweight handheld vacuum to tackle quick messes around the house.
—
Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messes around
Verb
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As Cuenca plays a ball to the feet of his striker, Wilson dashes in the other direction, delaying Ibrahima Konate’s forward jump because the centre-back knows Bradley is unable to track both him and Robinson at the same time.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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In the dark romantic comedy-drama, True Blood alum Skarsgård, 49, plays tough biker Ray, who enters into a dominant-submissive relationship with Colin (Melling), a shy and directionless man who sings in a barbershop quartet.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mark briefly flirts with manosphere-style aggrievement, but anger doesn’t suit him.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
4 Jan. 2026
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Reeves flirts with Michael Douglas territory in this Eli Roth erotic thriller that’s not especially good but is interesting as an acting exercise.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When a humanoid robot touches something harmful, sensor data usually travels to a central processor, waits for analysis and then sends instructions back to the motors.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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My partner travels fairly often for work, sometimes for three or four days at a time.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Greene’s heart-to-heart media tour has been jarring liberals and anyone else who associates her with conspiratorial beliefs and outrageous comments.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
21 Nov. 2025
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Everyone associates that with us.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And yet Guy still takes Kevis home to his apartment and hooks up with her!—
Lily Osler,
Vulture,
27 Oct. 2025
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Meanwhile, his sister Audrey (anatasia Phillips) secretly hooks up with his best friend Backwoods (Daniel Petronijevic), while beloved site manager Chelsea (Jennifer Spence) faces an uncomfortable truth when Jenn Conch (Jennifer Irwin) returns to Imperial Valley and wants to fit in.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For members of the Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network, a coalition of nonprofits that operates a hotline for reports of ICE activity and connects residents with legal and community support, the risk is not theoretical.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Disneyland's monorail is a historic transportation system that connects the park.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The film stars Sally Field as a widow who bonds with a giant Pacific octopus, while also connecting with a young man (Lewis Pullman) in need of direction.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
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The adhesive that bonds a child to a sports team is one of the most powerful elements in the universe.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 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
Cite this Entry
“Messes around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes%20around. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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