FOOLED AROUND Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

fooled around

verb

past tense of fool around

as in horsed around

to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior quit fooling around on the jungle gym, or you'll get hurt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in played

to spend time in aimless activity we fooled around outdoors for a while, then went in to get some work done

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 fooled around Not too long ago, artificial intelligence was more or less a science project in which data scientists and developers fooled around with one-off small or test projects. — Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fooled around

Verb

After Szabo cuts up Matt’s face in one of many graphic scenes, the actor loses his career and just about everything else in his life.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026
Union President Carrie Kyung said the plan includes cutting up to 18 English learner teachers and would affect at least two dozen schools.

— Jason Rantala, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of cut up

Verb

Husted played college football as a cornerback for the University of Dayton.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2026
But that doesn’t tell the full story either, as Seattle has played part of the season with backup Drew Lock and hasn’t yet lost by more than three points.

— Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of played

Verb

Then in spring training this year, Hollowell again messed around with different changeup grips while incorporating mental cues from previous coaches, and something clicked with a circle-change grip.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
Dragstrem, who focuses more on production, has messed around with it but was left unsatisfied; McGill, who’s more lyrics-driven, wants nothing to do with the tech.

— Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2026

Definition of messed around

Verb

Since then, he’s kicked around with HAIM while turning one third of its Los Angelino triumvirate, Alana Haim, into a screen actress.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
Every single night, through that winter, spring and summer, Caldwell and Rothstein kicked around potential game situations and ideas for how to approach them.

— Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of kicked around

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fooled

fooled around

fooled (with)

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Style

“Fooled around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fooled%20around. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fooled around

verb

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