screwing around

present participle of screw around
as in cheating
to be sexually unfaithful he hired a private detective because he thought his wife was screwing around

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 screwing around The informative thing was Lestat screwing around with me. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwing around
Verb
  • And using what looks like a giant pile of gerbil food for half-day cooking projects just feels like cheating.
    Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
  • The chapters moved from crime rates to cheating teachers to drug dealers living with their mothers, linking unlikely variables with a kind of intellectual mischief that felt almost illicit.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Lena Dunham was spotted in the back of an SUV, while producer Jack Antonoff was photographed by paparazzi stepping out in an oversized black blazer and matching slacks.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The couple enjoyed a date night in New York City, stepping out for dinner at Bourbon Steak New York.
    Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screwing around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwing%20around. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster