MESSING Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

messing

verb

present participle of mess

as in interfering

to interest oneself in what is not one's concern please don't mess with me while I'm trying to concentrate

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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 messing There was something a little therapeutic about messing it up. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 June 2026 No one can match her depth and passion to get vengeance on Krem of the Yellow Hills for messing with her family — a sentiment Cancers understand. — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Marilyn, Nixon, the Kennedys, Bay of Pigs—we’ve seen Ellroy messing with this material long before the Quintet. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 Countless Renditions Campbell’s wasn't the only one messing with the tomato soup cake formula. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 7 June 2026 Nevertheless, taking proactive steps to deal with hair, slime, soap scum, and other things messing with your pipes can save you a major plumbing headache down the line. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 2 June 2026 Punisher is messing with him, and the gun goes off. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 LeBron James loves messing with that nemesis named Father Time. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 14 May 2026 He was seen during his Tuesday practice round messing with his shoe and sock on his right foot before ultimately calling it quits. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for messing

Verb

Its inclusion in the documentary has provided ammunition for Musk supporters and his lawyers to discredit the film, pointing to an unfounded conspiracy theory about SpaceX’s Starlink satellites interfering in the election.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
The automakers also object to the government interfering in parts of the design that don’t improve the safety of the vehicle, saying a radio is different from seat belts and airbags.

— Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of interfering

Verb

My physical study, on the floor, poking at what was there in the open field of the air, led to newfound levels of learning to process, in poems on the page, where my initial feelings of hunger came from.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
In a recent interview with OutKick Dropkick, Hefner was already poking the bear in hopes of getting eyes on his event.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of poking

Verb

An alcoholic drink will give you a buzz, but if someone laced it with something dangerous, a new poison-snooping patch will buzz your skin to warn you.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026
Cady had injected some narcotic into a Georgia peach to knock Natalie out ahead of his confrontation with Crystal on the houseboat, but Ray snooping around on the Bowdens’s behalf led to this deadly improvisation.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 July 2026