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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Recent Examples of messing
Now Rob is messing with another one of Candiace’s friends, and Candiace is ready to blow up the whole turret over it.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
Genetic engineering took his fancy, but Hassan’s father didn’t like the idea of messing with God’s creation.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
The effect demands a more active degree of introspection than the average documentary, and Marczak’s unwavering commitment to that endurance test approach has a powerful way of messing with viewer expectations.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
In reality, your body is constantly regulating them on its own, and messing with that process can be problematic.
—Rachel Reiff Ellis, SELF, 23 Jan. 2026
The last two seasons have proven that the team starts off slow, which ends up messing their chances of making the playoffs.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
Genetic engineering took his fancy, but Hassan’s father didn’t like the idea of messing with God’s creation.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
The effect demands a more active degree of introspection than the average documentary, and Marczak’s unwavering commitment to that endurance test approach has a powerful way of messing with viewer expectations.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
In reality, your body is constantly regulating them on its own, and messing with that process can be problematic.
—Rachel Reiff Ellis, SELF, 23 Jan. 2026
The last two seasons have proven that the team starts off slow, which ends up messing their chances of making the playoffs.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messing
Verb
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In a statement early Thursday evening, the mayor’s office denied interfering in the search process, saying Johnson has not been presented with any candidates so far.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
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Hong Kong officials have defended the independence of the local judicial system, which is separate from that of mainland China, and accused foreign governments of interfering in internal affairs.—
Jennifer Jett,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Telltale Signs of Rotary Motion The re-examination revealed unmistakable evidence that this was no simple awl meant for poking holes.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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Garlic is a kitchen staple for many, but spotting a green sprout poking out of a clove can raise questions about food safety.—
Caitlin Beale,
Health,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Thornton, a vice president of strategic communications who has worked downtown for 17 years, including a decade with AIMCLEAR, was no stranger to snooping on behalf of his colleagues and his employer.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
5 Dec. 2025
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But snooping signals a lack of trust.—
Dr. Cortney Warren,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Messing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messing. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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