as in cheating
to be sexually unfaithful
he hired a private detective because he thought his wife was screwing around
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Recent Examples of screwing around
Mercedes is truly not screwing around with the new EQS.
—
Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 13 Apr. 2026
What if some big musician is screwing around at sound check and sings one of [Spinal Tap’s] songs.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 13 Apr. 2026
What if some big musician is screwing around at sound check and sings one of [Spinal Tap’s] songs.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwing around
Verb
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Greg de la Garza, Miami The Republican Party of Florida is cheating and getting away with it.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 May 2026
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In the course of reality TV’s 20-some-odd years golden era, a cheating scandal is almost as certain as a public screaming match in an unsuspecting local restaurant.—
Alexandra Hildreth,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Verb
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But Clarkson isn't stepping out of the spotlight completely.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
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But the 40-year-old has found a new calling since stepping out of the pool, becoming one of the most prominent and outspoken advocates for mental health and well-being in sports and beyond.—
Coy Wire,
CNN Money,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screwing around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwing%20around. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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