as in to cheat
to be sexually unfaithful
he hired a private detective because he thought his wife was screwing around
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Recent Examples of screw around
Ernesto and George were checking out the trailer, screwing around and being boys, the night Reynolds secretly came to the site to finish the plan.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Although, die-hard Richard Mille lovers will notice this is the first time the brand has changed the iconic screws around the outer edge of the bezels to Torq set screws, which has head slots that are distinctive and different from the norm.
—Rebecca Suhrawardi, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024
But there’s still huge potential for rooftop solar, which can help cities stay powered when wildfires or other disruptions batter the larger electric grid — an increasingly common problem as the climate crisis screws around with global weather systems.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2023
Related Story Alexandra Daddario Posed Naked On IG Alexandra doesn’t screw around with her fitness.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 20 June 2023
Or to screw around in the sand?
—Pete Lyons, Car and Driver, 11 Mar. 2023
But Zendaya doesn’t screw around in her workouts.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 27 Feb. 2023
Our gas giants don't screw around.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 30 Apr. 2012
Using the Internet like this to screw around with Putin’s image, by the way, is also a little reminiscent of something else along these lines.
—Andy Meek, BGR, 13 July 2022
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Although, die-hard Richard Mille lovers will notice this is the first time the brand has changed the iconic screws around the outer edge of the bezels to Torq set screws, which has head slots that are distinctive and different from the norm.
—Rebecca Suhrawardi, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024
But there’s still huge potential for rooftop solar, which can help cities stay powered when wildfires or other disruptions batter the larger electric grid — an increasingly common problem as the climate crisis screws around with global weather systems.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2023
Related Story Alexandra Daddario Posed Naked On IG Alexandra doesn’t screw around with her fitness.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 20 June 2023
Or to screw around in the sand?
—Pete Lyons, Car and Driver, 11 Mar. 2023
But Zendaya doesn’t screw around in her workouts.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 27 Feb. 2023
Our gas giants don't screw around.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 30 Apr. 2012
Using the Internet like this to screw around with Putin’s image, by the way, is also a little reminiscent of something else along these lines.
—Andy Meek, BGR, 13 July 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screw around
Verb
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This year has already seen examples of AI systems willing to deceive, cheat and steal to achieve their goals.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
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And rebuilding trust – as anyone knows who has lied or cheated – is far harder than protecting it.—
Teresa Ghilarducci,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Alicia Silverstone steps out in a cool suit weeks after the Clueless 30-year anniversary in New York on Aug. 6.—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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How Vrabel did land a job and stepped out of a recruiting visit to Boston College with his eldest son, Tyler, to take a call from the Titans in January 2018.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screw around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screw%20around. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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