Looking for synonyms for mess with? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say mess with.
- Tamper with
- Meddle in
- Interfere with
- Tinker with
- Toy with
- Fiddle with
- Monkey around with
- Trifle with
- Play around with
- Fool with
- Muck about with
- Mess around with
- Disturb
- Manipulate
- Alter
Want to learn how to say mess with professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. Tamper with
Used in serious contexts, often implying unauthorized or harmful alterations.
Example: “Employees are warned not to tamper with any electrical equipment.”
2. Meddle in
Appropriate for situations involving unwarranted or intrusive involvement.
Example: “The manager advised the team not to meddle in departments outside their purview.”
3. Interfere with
Used when one’s actions negatively impact or hinder something.
Example: “Please ensure your work does not interfere with the ongoing audit processes.”
4. Tinker with
Often used for minor adjustments or experimental changes, especially in technical contexts.
Example: “The engineer is tinkering with the design to improve efficiency.”
5. Toy with
Appropriate for considering or experimenting with ideas, not in a serious manner.
Example: “The marketing team is toying with several concepts for the new campaign.”
6. Fiddle with
Implies making unnecessary or unproductive adjustments.
Example: “He was cautioned against fiddling with the settings of the laboratory equipment.”
7. Monkey around with
Informal, used for aimless or mischievous interference.
Example: “Please don’t monkey around with the software settings without proper knowledge.”
8. Trifle with
Suggests dealing with something in a way that is not serious or respectful.
Example: “The company does not trifle with its core values and ethics.”
9. Play around with
Often used in creative or experimental contexts.
Example: “The designer is playing around with different color schemes for the website.”
10. Fool with
Used informally, similar to ‘fiddle with,’ implying unproductive tampering.
Example: “It’s not wise to fool with the database without consulting the IT team.”
11. Muck about with
Very informal, similar to ‘monkey around,’ used in casual or colloquial settings.
Example: “He was reprimanded for mucking about with the office security system.”
12. Mess around with
Informal, can be used in both playful and serious contexts.
Example: “Messing around with company policy can lead to disciplinary action.”
13. Disturb
Used in formal contexts to imply interruption or disruption.
Example: “Please do not disturb the experimental setup in the lab.”
14. Manipulate
Implies a more calculated or deceitful interference.
Example: “Manipulating financial records is a serious offense.”
15. Alter
A formal term used for making changes, often in a controlled or deliberate manner.
Example: “The project plan cannot be altered without approval from senior management.”
