screwed around

verb

past tense of screw around
as in cheated
to be sexually unfaithful he hired a private detective because he thought his wife was screwing around

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwed around
  1. cheated
  2. stepped out
Verb
  • The rest of us just got the surface, but who could feel cheated?
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Child safety advocates and some parents have welcomed age restrictions, while privacy groups say the rules can be cheated and that forcing users to supply identification raises privacy concerns.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheated
Verb
  • After the Mercedes swung around and law enforcement vehicles surrounded it, the driver stepped out with his hands up — only to swiftly step back inside.
    — Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • While the 38-year-old never exactly stepped out of the spotlight, she’s spent the last few years focused on acting jobs and raising four kids with her husband, singer-songwriter-producer Matthew Koma.
    — Keaton Bell, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of stepped out
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.

Browse Nearby Words

screwed
screwed around
screwed up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screwed around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwed%20around. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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