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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of mess around
Robert Pattinson is well known for messing around with the press and telling lies in his interviews, but even he was caught off guard recently while rewatching a television interview from 2011.
—
Zack Sharf, Variety, 4 Dec. 2024
Then tackle quick messes around the house and in the car with this handheld vacuum that’s slashed by 76 percent.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
Dastardly adjustment on a play the Rams have messed around with a lot behind the scenes, and in a crucial moment.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
The results are often imperfect, but since the camera is digital, a photographer can mess around and get instant gratification.
—Ars Technica, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mess around 
Zack Sharf, Variety, 4 Dec. 2024
Then tackle quick messes around the house and in the car with this handheld vacuum that’s slashed by 76 percent.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
Dastardly adjustment on a play the Rams have messed around with a lot behind the scenes, and in a crucial moment.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
The results are often imperfect, but since the camera is digital, a photographer can mess around and get instant gratification.
—Ars Technica, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mess around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess around
Verb
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After launching with a preview performance in Pittsburgh on March 12, the upcoming North American tour will officially open March 15 in Austin, where the show plays in partnership with South by Southwest.—
Gordon Cox,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2025
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Osaka was better than Garcia, who was playing her first match after a three-month mental health break.—
Matthew Futterman,
The Athletic,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Friars are still a long way from even remotely flirting with the Big Dance, but sometimes, hindering public enemy No. 1’s chances can serve as a nice consolation prize during a frustrating campaign.—
Jim Root,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
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Less than a month ago, Apple’ s market cap was flirting with what would be a historic $4 trillion mark.—
Kavitha Shastry,
CNBC,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The confident and haughty Onegin kills his friend in the duel and flees to travel the world to ruminate.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
WWD,
23 Jan. 2025
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Many European athletes decided to stay home because of the Russo-Japanese War, as well as the effort and expense required to travel to the United States.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Oklahoma fooled around with Houston long enough to escape with a narrow 16-12 win.—
Chase Goodbread,
The Tennessean,
18 Sep. 2024
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While the siblings have the habit of getting into troubles and to only use their creative skills to fool around, Michael sees in them a real talent.—
Maelle Beauget-Uhl,
Forbes,
5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Sixty four percent of response professionals see an increase in business risk associated with responding to customers formally (via RFP, DDQ) and informally when sales reps answer non proposal questions or customers get answers from chatbots.—
Stephen Diorio,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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In the week since Dallas parted ways with Mike McCarthy, most of the names associated with the position carry an explanation.—
Saad Yousuf,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But Hutson is running the defensive corps, averaging 22:42 per night, which gives him a serious edge on Celebrini and Michkov for the campaign's best rookie.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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Born Joan Ann Plowright in Brigg, Lincolnshire, England, her mother ran an amateur drama group and Plowright was involved in the theater from age 3.—
Pan Pylas,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Jan. 2025
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
Verb
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The two bonded over the bye week after butting heads a year ago.—
Brooks Kubena,
The Athletic,
17 Jan. 2025
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Bottlenose dolphins are one of the more common dolphin species in the wild — the kind humans might encounter while boating — and do well with humans in settings like zoos where they become bonded with the staff.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Mess around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mess%20around. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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