1
as in to debate
to give serious and careful thought to
the board spent the afternoon kicking around the feasibility of opening an overseas office
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
I really can't do much but kick around at work until I get the rest of the submissions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill time
to spend time doing nothing
spent the afternoon kicking around, while his wife bought out the mall
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
after spending a year in Europe kicking around, the backpacker was ready to return home
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5
as in to abuse
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
children who were raised by an alcoholic father who regularly kicked them around
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kick around
Between the lines: The political landscape this time around is far more complex, with a greater appetite for drastic spending and headcount reductions, as well as a proposal that's kicked around Congress to make NOAA an independent agency.
—
Andrew Freedman, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025
On a 2-on-1 entry into the offensive zone, McDavid nimbly handled the kick around the sliding defenseman and then fired a sharp-angle shot from tight and roofed it.
—Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025
Mystical foxes, the torches of gentle giants, spirits kicking around a walrus skull—humans have interpreted the northern lights in many ways over time.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2024
The backstory: The idea has been kicking around Trumpworld for several months, as the transition considered structural changes at the White House to prioritize staffing for Trump's priorities.
—Mike Allen, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for kick around
Andrew Freedman, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025
On a 2-on-1 entry into the offensive zone, McDavid nimbly handled the kick around the sliding defenseman and then fired a sharp-angle shot from tight and roofed it.
—Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025
Mystical foxes, the torches of gentle giants, spirits kicking around a walrus skull—humans have interpreted the northern lights in many ways over time.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2024
The backstory: The idea has been kicking around Trumpworld for several months, as the transition considered structural changes at the White House to prioritize staffing for Trump's priorities.
—Mike Allen, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for kick around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick around
Verb
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The principals often debate various courses of action and present it to the president for a final decision.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
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Listen to this article With the state spending $378 million last year on overtime, legislators are debating a controversial bill to eliminate overtime from state pension calculations.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Engage Your Senses In a shared office environment, playing loud music or lighting a scented candle is frowned upon.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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Working with seasoned veterans was also a thrill for Frenchman Renan Pacheco, who scored his first major American role playing Lane’s love interest in the pilot.—
Rance Collins,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Room to roam: Wild Heaven Beer West End Communal seating, fire pits, and clear lines of sight to children running around offer ample opportunities to relax.—
Thomas Wheatley,
Axios,
24 Mar. 2025
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Loading your audio article SAN JOSE — Karlie Lema had the ball at her feet and plenty of green grass to roam.—
Christian Babcock,
The Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Authorities subsequently found that the boy and Ruby's 10-year-old daughter had been seriously abused.—
Liam Quinn,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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In May 2023, Attorney General Kwame Raoul published a 696-page report, which found that over about seven decades, at least 1,997 children have been abused by 451 Catholic clerics and religious brothers across the state’s dioceses.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As Von Teese straps on a new corset and Christian Louboutin heels, her fleet of fast-tapping dancers entertain the audience.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
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While older teens might appreciate its message about family and independence, younger kids will likely be more confused than entertained.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
26 Mar. 2025
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.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
23 Feb. 2025
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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.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The banal village tunes that Mahler altered into sinister mock vulgarities—did these not recall the raffish klezmer bands, the wandering musicians who played at shtetl weddings?—
David Denby,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
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The vehicle wandered across the road far more than any already ill-handling Defender should, its brakes were weak, and gear shifts were accompanied by a prominent clunk.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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How could the president possibly take apart an administrative agency?—
Jay Cost,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
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At least until an archivist took another look, setting off a yearslong project to identify and then reassemble the medieval manuscript, which someone in Tudor England had taken apart and used to help hold together a ledger.—
Alan Yuhas,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kick around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20around. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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