1
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
spent the vacation day just messing around
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to flirt
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 to travel
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mess around
With floor-sweeping hems and bold colors, this season’s fashion isn’t messing around.
—
Ola Rindal Delphine Danhier, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Not messing around with different formations and trying to be too smart like GoN was.
—Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
The soap comes in a refillable EZ-Squeeze bottle that is cap-down (similar to Dawn Platinum), which contributes to less mess around the dispenser.
—Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2025
The boy rolled his eyes in boredom, and then began to mess around, putting his fingers in his dad’s ears as Musk struggled to listen to reporters’ questions.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mess around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess around
Verb
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Engage Your Senses In a shared office environment, playing loud music or lighting a scented candle is frowned upon.—
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My son Tal plays guitar, drums, bass, flutes, everything.—
Verb
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The index, which sits at the heart of many investors’ 401(k) accounts, has been flirting with a drop of 20% from its record set less than two months ago.—
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The market understands that Trump is way out over his skis on this, and is going to send him a message this week hammering that home (S&P flirting with bear market territory this morning).—
Verb
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The incident comes some seven years after an American missionary, John Allen Chau, traveled to the same island with a bible.—
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Last year, the Russian leader traveled to Mongolia without facing any repercussions – despite the East Asian country being a member of the ICC.—
Verb
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Those who crave the thrill of a victory may embody the competitor. Bigger, bolder personalities may shine as jokers, always fooling around, or as storytellers, bringing imagination to life.—
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While Mark and Helly were fooling around, Helly wasn’t fulfilling her promise to go get the directions Irving left tucked behind Dylan’s motivational poster.—
Verb
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Quina tools in Europe are specifically associated with Neanderthals—but Neanderthal remains have never been uncovered in East Asia.—
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In traditional Eastern Medicine, cupping therapy is closely associated with acupuncture.—
Verb
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For an extra clean, run the empty machine on its highest temperature setting without detergent.—
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Sunday's warnings generally run from 1 to 8 p.m. MDT, with west winds of 15-25 miles per hour and gusts up to 40 mph.—
Verb
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Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.—
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The big picture: The nine-block shopping district got its own Art Deco-style sign on Monday, which now hangs about 25 feet in the air over Cary Street by Burtons Grill & Bar.—
Verb
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After this, everyone met in the paddock, were instructors and participants brought the three horses, Lulu, Churro, and Warrior, to groom them and start bonding with them, by taking the time to understand each other.—
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That is also the ideal time-frame to bond with new owners.—
Cite this Entry
“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20around. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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