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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example 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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One of the greatest of all time to play the position, one of the greatest players of all time.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
The Athletic,
28 Jan. 2025
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Unlike last preseason, when Inter Miami traveled 25,000 miles to play seven matches across five countries, this year’s tour is more manageable and easier on the players’ bodies.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
27 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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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
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Meanwhile, while the Heat traveled to Milwaukee on Wednesday night, Butler attended a social event, showing up unexpectedly to the Reserve Cup draft and dinner hosted by Moncayo Ocean Club at a private residence in Miami.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
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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While this rule of thumb is a bedrock of financial well-being, the ever-changing landscape surrounding retirement and the financial implications associated with preparing for this exciting stage of life can often be intimidating and potentially hazardous to navigate alone.—
Alex Hunter,
Kansas City Star,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Kick-off times at the Copa America — which ran from June 20 to July 14 at 14 venues across the United States — were at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm ET (11pm, 12am, 1am and 2am GMT).—
Sam Joseph,
The Athletic,
30 Jan. 2025
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The show was slated to run from April 11 to May 11 before heading to Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Manchester.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
29 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 molds and plate were removed after three hours of curing, and the team applied silicon adhesive to bond the rigid segments to the soft joints.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
29 Jan. 2025
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Most American pet owners see their pets as their children, but one generation has bonded with their fur babies more than any others.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 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 2 Feb. 2025.
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