Definitions

mess with

VERB

pester

Synonyms

STRONGEST

annoy badger bedevil hassle hector hound irk nag tease torment

STRONG

beleaguer bug disturb dog fret harry importune insist nudge plague provoke remind ride tantalize worry

WEAK

be at drive crazy drive up the wall get at get in one's hair get on one's nerves get to pick at work on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

delight make happy please

STRONG

aid appease assist calm comfort forget help pacify reassure soothe

VERB

snoop

Synonyms

STRONGEST

intrude peep

STRONG

busybody interfere meddle mouse nose peek peer poke pry snook spy stare

WEAK

poke one's nose in / into

Antonyms

STRONG

ignore leave alone

WEAK

neglect

VERB

tinker

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dabble mess

STRONG

doodle fix monkey niggle play puddle putter repair toy

WEAK

muck about play with take apart trifle with

Antonyms

STRONG

break destroy work

WEAK

leave alone

VERB

trifle

Synonyms

STRONG

coquet dabble dally dawdle dilly-dally doodle fidget flirt fool fritter idle loiter lollygag lounge misuse monkey palter philander play potter putter squander toy twiddle wanton waste

WEAK

amuse oneself be insincere fool around fool with fribble futz around horse around indulge in lead on monkey with play games with play with string along use up waste time wink at

Antonyms

STRONG

hasten hoard hurry push rush save work

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“They’ve been very successful growing organically — why mess with the model?”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 24, 2026

Brijesh, who was riding a scooter to the mess with two friends when the plane came down, still undergoes physiotherapy for burn injuries.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

Basically, she said: Judge O’Connor, you think you can mess with a case in my state?

From Slate • May 18, 2026

If the Dodgers choose not to mess with team success, they would not afford Yamamoto the chance to hit either of those traditional barometers of excellence.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

“They mess with our stuff, they mess with us.”

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

mess with

Example Sentences

Related Words