MESSES AROUND Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words

messes around

verb

present tense third-person singular of mess around

as in plays

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in flirts

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 travels

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 messes around Other standouts include a Maybelline mascara and a Black and Decker handheld vacuum, which makes quick work of small messes around the house and in the car. — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for messes around

Verb

After the Longhorns stuffed Jadan Baugh for a 2-yard loss plays later, Jones sold a fake, rolled out and connected with tight end Lacota Dippre for a 7-yard score.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
But Peter O’Toole plays your adviser and has these wonderful speeches about the importance of the monarchy and the spirit of the country.

— Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of plays

Verb

Between Jordan’s charm and Misty’s smile that only emerges around him, the film flirts with becoming a romantic comedy.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Hal flirts with Kerry; John has an affair with Zoe (Poorna Jagannathan), the wife of William Macon (Garret Dillahunt), a local cattle mogul whose compound has more high tech weaponry than a mere human would seem to need.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of flirts

Verb

Despite the expansion of Starlink and other communications satellite services, most of the world’s Internet traffic still travels through subsea cables crisscrossing the ocean floors.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
In two Top-10 matchups in the final week of the regular season, Loyola hosts Mount Carmel — and Hersey travels to Prospect.

— Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of travels

Verb

Though the sisters are supposedly first-generation Italian American, no whiff of the old country hangs about Kay; Dorothy will at least spit out a few words in Italian.

— Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Turquoise pearl, and azure line the space, and a cylindrical hanging light sculpture made of hundreds of white and gold ceramic fish hangs about the lounge seating area.

— Kristin Braswell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026

Definition of hangs about

Verb

Innova also associates afternoon snacking specifically with satisfaction, while other dayparts lean toward refreshment or indulgence.

— Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
The Shiji associates Sun Tzu with Wu’s campaigns against its powerful rival Chu, including the campaign that culminated in the capture of the Chu capital, Ying, in 506 bce.

— Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of associates

Verb

Cade Depriest hooks up with a Gunn again for 34 yards and Winter Park is on the move back inside the red zone.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Tony contains details directly pulled from Kitchen Confidential, including a memorable moment in which one of the cooks (Leo Woodall) hooks up with a bride who visits the restaurant immediately following her own wedding.

— Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of hooks up

Verb

The young man who bonds with the ghost of his a–hole father while trapped in a gooey cushion of whale intestines stays with the ghost of his a–hole father.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Mia, the kindly next-door neighbor, and her daughter, Noora (Henrikke Lund-Olsen), who bonds with Elia at school.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of bonds

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messes

messes around

messes over

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“Messes around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messes%20around. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of messes around

verb

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