mess around

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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

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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 mess around Medina messed around, pulled the trigger and found out that key fact. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2025 So, in America, ridiculously, much value is attached to jobs that give you the privilege of being messed around by UnitedHealthcare and its competitors. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024 Grab this best-selling handheld vacuum from Black and Decker to tackle crumbs, dust, and more quick messes around the house. Isabel Garcia, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025 The Los Angeles fires are similarly pouring smoke and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, with the local topography—mountains that trap haze in the Los Angeles Basin—keeping the mess around. Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mess around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mess around
Verb
  • Also, Foley dealt with concussion symptoms and never played in the NHL.
    Jeremy Rutherford, The Athletic, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Blades Brown has continued to make headlines despite not playing in this week's Cognizant Classic.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Getty Images Brown has been flirting with the mob wife look recently and the evidence has been popping up all over the red carpet.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 28 Feb. 2025
  • More importantly, Trump himself should ask his followers to stop flirting with extremist symbols for attention or political gain.
    Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • People living or traveling in other parts of the world have various ways to watch the red carpet, awards presentations and acceptance speeches.
    Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
  • In this region, land, sea, and Black labor converged to leave a culinary imprint that has traveled far beyond the Carolina coast.
    Cynthia R. Greenlee, Bon Appétit, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Those who crave the thrill of a victory may embody the competitor. Bigger, bolder personalities may shine as jokers, always fooling around, or as storytellers, bringing imagination to life.
    Julianna Bragg, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
  • While Mark and Helly were fooling around, Helly wasn’t fulfilling her promise to go get the directions Irving left tucked behind Dylan’s motivational poster.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, most of the bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms were those associated with the human body.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2025
  • While the public often associates AI with automation and repetitive outputs, the most compelling works are those that communicate the artist’s vision built on years of meticulous studies and experiments.
    Gerui Wang, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The show would run for two more seasons following her departure, with Stefan and Caroline eventually getting married.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Sibley ran across the lot, behind some other cars parked in the car wash bays and behind a dumpster while trying to evade the gunmen.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
  • Seems like an innocent enough way to bond with your partner after a long day of caregiving, but many commenters didn’t see it this way.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Unlike most formulas, Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat is meant to be applied to wet (or semi-wet) polish, bonding with every layer to create a durable, chip-resistant finish.
    Siena Gagliano, Allure, 5 Mar. 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 13 Mar. 2025.

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