1
as in played
to spend time in aimless activity
spent the vacation day just messing around
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flirted
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 associated
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of messed around
In the email, Dixon suggested that the fire department employee may have messed around with the department's equipment.
—
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed around
Verb
-
The Timberwolves also played without starting forward Jaden McDaniels (right knee soreness) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (right calf soreness).—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Neither Green nor Booker played in the fourth quarter as the Suns cruised to the victory.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kelce has flirted with retirement the past two offseasons, but two straight disappointing finishes for the Chiefs may have played a role in his decision to come back one last time this fall.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Charlotte flirted with the team record for made three-pointers in a game Tuesday.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Such shifts, says Panofsky, are always associated with a transfer of artistic leadership to a new country or to a new discipline.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But as lawmakers debate whether to regulate or ban kratom, public health problems associated with the drug continue to rise.—
Andrew Kolodny,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Not too long ago, artificial intelligence was more or less a science project in which data scientists and developers fooled around with one-off small or test projects.—
Joe McKendrick,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There were ten teen-agers who’d travelled from around the country with their dads.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The confirmation comes after there were conflicting totals due to victims having travelled to a hospital in private vehicles instead of in ambulances.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Seven stacks of tiny paper cups were arranged to the left, next to packets of Nescafé, pouches of two-minute noodles, and a double gas burner connected to the cylinder—the main tool of his trade.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
White Settlement detectives collaborated with agencies across North Texas to determine whether the three suspects were connected to similar incidents in the Metroplex, according to the statement.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On the day of our visit, the South Korean tanker SK Audace was loading cargo, hooked up to pipes so cold they were covered in a thick layer of frost despite the balmy bayou weather.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That leisure battery is hooked up to a 650-W rooftop solar charging system to keep things running as long as possible.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His relied heavily on his four-seam fastball, but mixed in the rest of his arsenal — the slider (18 times), changeup (10 times), sweeper (nine times), curveball (eight times) and cutter (five times) — to keep opponents off balanced.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The participants started with a lower dose, which came as a gray powder mixed into hot water.—
Natalia V. Osipova,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Messed around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed%20around. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
