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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Recent Examples of mess around
And, uh, some guy in bright green Hellcat came up to me at about 75, 80 miles an hour and started messing around.
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Josh Max, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
After the event, Cruise was seen messing around with the grand pipe organ, shown in pictures shared by the concert’s conductor Ben Palmer and organist Anna Lapwood.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2024
When her government-agent boyfriend is murdered, Foxy goes undercover as a prostitute to infiltrate a criminal syndicate and does not mess around delivering a severe comeuppance.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024
There might have been a few glasses consumed when the six-person band known as the True Loves started messing around with putting notes on paper for its latest hit.
—Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mess around 
Josh Max, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
After the event, Cruise was seen messing around with the grand pipe organ, shown in pictures shared by the concert’s conductor Ben Palmer and organist Anna Lapwood.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2024
When her government-agent boyfriend is murdered, Foxy goes undercover as a prostitute to infiltrate a criminal syndicate and does not mess around delivering a severe comeuppance.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024
There might have been a few glasses consumed when the six-person band known as the True Loves started messing around with putting notes on paper for its latest hit.
—Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mess around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess around
Verb
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The graduate student didn’t play in the season opener at Texas, only got in the game late against UNC, and played sparingly against CU before breaking out with a 156-yard, two-touchdown performance against UTEP.Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
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Mack played only a handful of snaps because of a groin injury.Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 10 Nov. 2024
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The crew scans as underground but is now flirting with mainstream rap culture, thanks to their gold and platinum plaques, billions of streams, and an aura that any major rap or popstar would sell their soul to have.Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2024
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With more than 100 images of everything from the carousel to the coaster to cafes, this book will charm any Angeleno who has ever walked, surfed, swam, eaten, flirted or gazed at the pier.Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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All trucks that travel California roads must be fully transitioned to clean technology by 2045.Pat Maio, Orange County Register, 16 Nov. 2024
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Police said the man was crossing Rose Street and was struck by a vehicle driven by a 79-year-old Berkeley woman woman that was traveling eastbound on Rose Street.Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Why fool around with a convention that everyone understood and practiced?Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2024
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Flashbacks peppered throughout the first several episodes reveal that Yasmin caught her father fooling around with a pregnant woman on the boat.Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 16 Sep. 2024
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Pain Relief – Cannabinoids like THC and CBD have analgesic properties that may help alleviate body aches and headaches associated with the flu.Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
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In August, the FBI reviewed credit card statements associated with Williams that showed payment at a parking near a Washington metro station, about a 10-minute ride from the Capitol area, that was made on Jan. 6, 2021, the statements of facts says.Phil Helsel, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
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Exasperated Cowboys want explanation for no-call on 49ers’ key touchdown pass Ricky Pearsall • WR Wide open most of the game, Pearsall looked like the perfect Niners’ receiver on his 46-yard touchdown catch, running a deep dig behind the linebackers.Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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Cincinnati’s offense has moved the ball well, and has run double-digit plays on back-to-back drives.NBC News, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
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.Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024
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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.Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 1 Oct. 2024
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Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and potential first gentleman Doug Emhoff were seen just offstage, bonding over the historic Bon Jovi/R.E.M. rock summit meeting.Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
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For many families, Christmas traditions are incomplete without a memorable advert and these early releases provide something to bond over, fuelling conversations and creating an emotional bridge between consumer and brand.Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20around. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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