as in cheating
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
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Recent Examples of screwing around
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
Melinda Newman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwing around
Verb
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Among the reasons Belichick was not inducted are his involvement in cheating scandals, such as Spygate and Deflategate, according to ESPN.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
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Cornyn’s campaign responded with a taunt over Paxton’s divorce and cheating scandal.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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He was seen stepping out of his vehicle at his sister Annie's home.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
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After stepping out in a parade of bra-baring sheer mesh looks in Paris and London, the Skims founder continued her peekaboo lingerie domination in a monochromatic mint outfit with a subtle NSFW see-through detail.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screwing around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwing%20around. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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