as in cheating
to be sexually unfaithful
he hired a private detective because he thought his wife was screwing around
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of screwing around
What if some big musician is screwing around at sound check and sings one of [Spinal Tap’s] songs.
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Melinda Newman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Melinda Newman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwing around
Verb
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An angler competing in a walleye derby on Saskatchewan’s Montreal Lake was kicked out of the ice-fishing tournament Saturday after being accused of cheating.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
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Last year, a dozen people were charged with using and selling a smog-check cheating device.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Spring means a lot of things — flowers are blooming, days get longer, and many folks are finally stepping out of the cold.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
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Next, Timberlake can be seen handing over his license and registration before stepping out of the car to undergo a series of sobriety tests.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screwing around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwing%20around. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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