messes around

present tense third-person singular of mess around
1
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

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messes around
Verb
  • Olivia Swann Swann plays NCIS Special Agent Captain Michelle Mackey on the international spinoff.
    Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • On Fridays patrons can enjoy light bites while a DJ plays a mix of Caribbean sounds; Saturdays they are treated to live music, and Sundays offer wellness with morning yoga, an afternoon drum class and evening jazz.
    Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Columbus, Ohio, could approach its daily record high of 83 degrees Saturday, while San Antonio, Texas, flirts with a daily record of 93 degrees.
    Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As someone who travels at least twice a month, my go-to sweater styles are lightweight options that don’t take up too much room in my luggage.
    Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Richard Linklater‘s Nouvelle Vague time-travels to the moment right before modern cinema’s big bang, when the French New Wave crested and Godard’s Breathless would change everything.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Everyone associates that with us.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Hunger can be another motivator, especially if your feline associates certain times or behaviors with food.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Meanwhile, Jeremiah continues to struggle with his breakup from Belly and hooks up with Steven and Taylor's friends.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That is also true regarding how the dispute connects to labor law.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2025
  • And while the chemistry between the two romantic leads is solid, the movie never connects emotionally.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Half-brothers Wirt and Greg certainly have their disagreements during their journey through the Unknown, but what bonds them in the end, like Lucy carrying her tired little brother Linus home to bed in Great Pumpkin, is fathomless love.
    Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Since the split, sources told People that the actress bonds with their two daughters Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Birdie runs First-round leader Steven Alker ran off six consecutive birdies on the back nine Friday which jettisoned him up the leaderboard to a tournament-record 61.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The Bachelor season 19 contestant, Jade Roper Tolbert, who runs her own cosmetics company, was also a judge.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Messes around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes%20around. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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