1
as in fiddling (around)
to spend time in aimless activity
spent the vacation day just messing around
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flirting
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 traveling
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 messing around
Kylian liked messing around, having a laugh and telling jokes — just like the rest of us.
—
Tom Williams, New York Times, 16 June 2026
All of our memories are traveling the world, messing around, having fun, and being teenagers.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2026
The Lakers weren’t messing around during the film sessions or practices.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Following the global success of The Housemaid, Lionsgate is not messing around with its upcoming sequel.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
So, get ready to travel to Sweden for a taste of adolescence full of smiles, tears, dancing, messing around – and skateboards.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Morgan had been messing around with a curveball, but didn’t actually throw it until a workout at Petco Park a week before the draft.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Soon afterward, however, at a Red Bull event in Austria, Goepper began messing around on a quarterpipe.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
Most people are messing around charging far too little for clients who don't appreciate them.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Tom Williams, New York Times, 16 June 2026
All of our memories are traveling the world, messing around, having fun, and being teenagers.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2026
The Lakers weren’t messing around during the film sessions or practices.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Following the global success of The Housemaid, Lionsgate is not messing around with its upcoming sequel.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
So, get ready to travel to Sweden for a taste of adolescence full of smiles, tears, dancing, messing around – and skateboards.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Morgan had been messing around with a curveball, but didn’t actually throw it until a workout at Petco Park a week before the draft.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Soon afterward, however, at a Red Bull event in Austria, Goepper began messing around on a quarterpipe.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
Most people are messing around charging far too little for clients who don't appreciate them.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messing around
Verb
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Dallas Stadium’s long-term grass future Once engineers figured out that drainage was a major problem in sustaining quality grass indoors, putting down a playing surface for a football, futbol or a soccer game wasn’t that hard.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
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Even playing in the large San Francisco market and increasing payroll from $175 million in 2024 to $210 million in 2026.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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After nearly half a century of flirting with direct conflict, the United States finally went to war with Iran.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
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Maybe someone is complimenting (or flirting with you) publicly, but controlling you behind the scenes.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors say Wilburn was traveling about 100 mph on Cherry Valley Boulevard with lights and sirens activated, responding to a report of a shooting.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Drivers are reminded to exercise patience, remain attentive and use caution while traveling through the area.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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The transition was rough for Ansari, who wasn’t fluent in English and often got in trouble for fooling around in school.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Campbell argues that Latchford’s donations helped bolster his credibility as a scholar by associating his name with top institutions.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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Hoffman has apologized for associating with Epstein.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Verb
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In 2019, city employees began hanging about 500 trick-or-treat pumpkin buckets in the trees on Main Street every October.—
Elliott Harrell,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
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Orion Nebula Those viewing from a dark sky location may also notice a blurry patch of light hanging about 5 degrees below Orion's belt.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There were endless questions to be answered — namely, how Amanda and West could betray Ciara Miller and Kyle Cooke by hooking up behind their backs … and lying to everyone about it.—
Sarah Hearon,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 June 2026
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Her thoughts on the idea of Jackie hooking up with the English lawyer who’s representing her in a big new case?—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Husband and wife duo Cristina Marzolf and Matthew Marzolf, both 25, had been kicking around the concept of Press’d Cafe and Lounge, a family-friendly tropical escape that sells smoothies, juices and food for years.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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There are a few great Star Wars arcade games still kicking around, but this one is my personal favorite.—
Alex James Kane,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messing around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messing%20around. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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