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
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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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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kick around
Chicago’s name gets kicked around a lot by people who are politically invested in its decline.
—
Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 May 2025
As for what’s coming next, the agent said he’s spoken with a number of food brands with character mascots, kicking around ideas with companies like M&Ms and Lucky Charms, to name just a couple.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
While Goff’s impact on Frontierland is well documented — and Hahn notes, perhaps, an influence from Knott’s Berry Farm’s Ghost Town in these images — it’s also believed some of these designs were kicked around as a potential Main Street, U.S.A., concept.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
Once down there, I was getting stood on, kicked around.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kick around
Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 May 2025
As for what’s coming next, the agent said he’s spoken with a number of food brands with character mascots, kicking around ideas with companies like M&Ms and Lucky Charms, to name just a couple.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
While Goff’s impact on Frontierland is well documented — and Hahn notes, perhaps, an influence from Knott’s Berry Farm’s Ghost Town in these images — it’s also believed some of these designs were kicked around as a potential Main Street, U.S.A., concept.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
Once down there, I was getting stood on, kicked around.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kick around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick around
Verb
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While the cause and eventual outcome can be debated, the immediate impact was felt with shares of Tesla falling 14% on Thursday.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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The Senate passed the bill on a vote of 19 to 13, which happened more than 16 hours after the chamber was scheduled to debate it.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Sarah Snook, who played Shiv Roy on that HBO drama, was nominated (and went on to win!), following in the footsteps of her costars Jeremy Strong and Keiran Culkin.—
Melissa Locker,
Time,
9 June 2025
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The band then went on to play its way through the rest of the Village, cranking out cartoon theme song medleys between the sets as mostly white kids thrashed in the crowd.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Tesla’s robotaxis will roam city streets, and humanoid robots dubbed Optimus will perform everyday tasks.—
Caroline Petrow-Cohen,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
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Since then, Tex, who sports a yellow ear tag, has been roaming around and randomly making appearances.—
Alice Jones Webb,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Three-time gold medal sprinter Gabby Thomas was verbally abused at a track meet in Philadelphia, not the first harassment this year.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2025
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In 2011, Gilbert developed pancreatitis after years of abusing drugs and alcohol.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Local entertainers, from hip-hop artists to visual artists, entertained the crowd for four hours, showing off their talents.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
6 June 2025
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The audience is pulled in, and ultimately entertained, not just by the impeccable performances, but via an inside look at average, everyday people.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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As Molly and Guy start to fool around, things get hot and heavy, but Ernie has a job to do.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
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As Molly and Guy start to fool around, things get hot and heavy, but Ernie has a job to do.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Across the street, walking to their apartments, Marta Becerra, 50, and Margarita Mota, 60, said people from the parking structure had wandered into their apartment complex, stealing bicycles and other items from people’s porches.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
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Any Colorado wolves that wander into Utah, New Mexico or Arizona will be retrieved and brought back to the Centennial State, under agreements state wildlife officials inked with those neighboring states.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
28 May 2025
Verb
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All of this in service to no real objective other than taking apart the federal government from within.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
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The recognizable beat plays as two muscled dudes take apart the front room of a two-story house.—
Bob Verini,
Variety,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kick around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20around. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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