as in cheating
to be sexually unfaithful
he hired a private detective because he thought his wife was screwing around
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Recent Examples of screwing around
Mercedes is truly not screwing around with the new EQS.
—
Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 13 Apr. 2026
What if some big musician is screwing around at sound check and sings one of [Spinal Tap’s] songs.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 13 Apr. 2026
What if some big musician is screwing around at sound check and sings one of [Spinal Tap’s] songs.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwing around
Verb
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And when everyone else in the classroom is a genius, cheating becomes a real option to stay ahead, especially in the sciences.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
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Kevin appeared to reference his 2017 cheating scandal, which transpired while Eniko was pregnant with their first child.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Verb
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That tracks here — anyone stepping out on this issue by nature must be more open to considering issues on a standalone basis, considering their merits and the benefits to constituents first instead of deferring to the party line.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
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The lawsuit alleges an unidentified deputy responded by driving to the scene, stopping momentarily, then leaving without ever stepping out of her SUV.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screwing around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwing%20around. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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