as in interfering
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
please don't mess with me while I'm trying to concentrate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 messing
There was something a little therapeutic about messing it up.
—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
28 June 2026
No one can match her depth and passion to get vengeance on Krem of the Yellow Hills for messing with her family — a sentiment Cancers understand.
—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
Marilyn, Nixon, the Kennedys, Bay of Pigs—we’ve seen Ellroy messing with this material long before the Quintet.
—
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Countless Renditions Campbell’s wasn't the only one messing with the tomato soup cake formula.
—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
Nevertheless, taking proactive steps to deal with hair, slime, soap scum, and other things messing with your pipes can save you a major plumbing headache down the line.
—
Abby Monteil,
The Spruce,
2 June 2026
Punisher is messing with him, and the gun goes off.
—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
LeBron James loves messing with that nemesis named Father Time.
—
Candace Buckner,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
He was seen during his Tuesday practice round messing with his shoe and sock on his right foot before ultimately calling it quits.
—
Mark Harris Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
28 June 2026
No one can match her depth and passion to get vengeance on Krem of the Yellow Hills for messing with her family — a sentiment Cancers understand.
—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
Marilyn, Nixon, the Kennedys, Bay of Pigs—we’ve seen Ellroy messing with this material long before the Quintet.
—
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Countless Renditions Campbell’s wasn't the only one messing with the tomato soup cake formula.
—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
Nevertheless, taking proactive steps to deal with hair, slime, soap scum, and other things messing with your pipes can save you a major plumbing headache down the line.
—
Abby Monteil,
The Spruce,
2 June 2026
Punisher is messing with him, and the gun goes off.
—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
LeBron James loves messing with that nemesis named Father Time.
—
Candace Buckner,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
He was seen during his Tuesday practice round messing with his shoe and sock on his right foot before ultimately calling it quits.
—
Mark Harris Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for messing
Verb
-
The pivotal match itself — the semifinal encounter against hosts Uruguay — is also more convincingly depicted and dramatic, particularly for how one of the goals is assisted by an interfering policeman (incredibly, this did actually happen).
-
Other fans have targeted Chung Mong-gyu, the outgoing director of the Korean Football Association, who’s been accused of improperly interfering in the management of the national team.
Verb
-
Calderón, a big, bald man wearing a gold chain and cross-shaped earrings, sat off to the side, amid an entourage of muscular assistants in polo shirts, poking at his phone.
-
If their edges are poking out from your ice sphere, your ice will melt and break apart faster.
Verb
-
Her mother has become a fan but didn’t start out that way, unaware her high school had a soccer team until Garbowski went snooping in an old yearbook.
-
Besides the risk of Oracle snooping into your business, there’s also the possibility of regulatory capture — that is, because Ellison is so tight with the Trumps, what remains of the government watchdogs won’t stop it.
Cite this Entry
“Messing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/messing. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
