MESSED AROUND Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

messed around

verb

past tense of mess around

as in played

to spend time in aimless activity spent the vacation day just messing around

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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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 Then in spring training this year, Hollowell again messed around with different changeup grips while incorporating mental cues from previous coaches, and something clicked with a circle-change grip. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026 Dragstrem, who focuses more on production, has messed around with it but was left unsatisfied; McGill, who’s more lyrics-driven, wants nothing to do with the tech. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for messed around

Verb

My model is concentrated on the last 24 rounds played, and includes driving distance, strokes gained off the tee, strokes gained around the green, strokes gained putting, and strokes gained on par 3s longer than 200 yards.

— Dennis Esser, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
View this post on Instagram Alyson Stoner Alyson Stoner, who also played Kairi in Kingdom Hearts, shared an emotional, heartfelt video mourning the loss of Panettiere.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of played

Verb

The president has repeatedly flirted with broadening the assault, hoping yet another round of bombardment might force Iran to yield.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Walsh flirted with the 50-meter butterfly world record and took gold, with Douglass finishing in silver position.

— Peter Baugh, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of flirted

Verb

Those involved in the push to make South Carolina first envisioned the living-room conversations and retail politics long associated with Iowa and New Hampshire.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
There’s no unwinding in the serene nature and crisp German air of Baden-Baden, the historic town long associated with restorative living, and that seamless discretion is entirely the point.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of associated

Verb

Craft distillers traveled to the state Capitol Monday to urge lawmakers to support the measure.

— Darrielle Fair, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Ohtani’s 30th homer traveled 448 feet into the Los Angeles bullpen off Ryan Feltner (5-7) and gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead in the third inning.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of traveled

Verb

No balls were kicked around, but a first impression was made about a pitch that’s cropped tighter than a Pebble Beach fairway yet in impressive shape after four games over 11 days.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
Near a door leading to a loading dock, a group of players on the host Vegas Golden Knights — including forward Mitch Marner, who went on to score a regulation hat trick in a 5-4 win — stood in a circle and kicked around a soccer ball.

— Peter Baugh, New York Times, 8 June 2026

Definition of kicked around

Verb

While earthquakes are not connected to climate change, the way many cities in earthquake-prone California have prepared for a potential Big One is as an example of what’s possible.

— Peter Prengaman, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
While Betty Jo was staying at the lake house, a local attorney contacted her about a scale model of an old Hi-Power Service Station that was connected to her family.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of connected

Verb

Gilman had been moved from a prison to a civilian hospital, where he was hooked up to a feeding tube and handcuffed to a bed.

— CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Lebson said he has been moved from a prison to a civilian hospital, where he is hooked up to a feeding tube and handcuffed to a bed.

— Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of hooked up

Browse Nearby Words

messed

messed around

messed over

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“Messed around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messed%20around. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of messed around

verb

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