1
as in contemplated
to give serious and careful thought to
the board spent the afternoon kicking around the feasibility of opening an overseas office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in played
to spend time in aimless activity
I really can't do much but kick around at work until I get the rest of the submissions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hacked (around)
to spend time doing nothing
spent the afternoon kicking around, while his wife bought out the mall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in roamed
to move about from place to place aimlessly
after spending a year in Europe kicking around, the backpacker was ready to return home
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in abused
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
children who were raised by an alcoholic father who regularly kicked them around
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kicked around
That bill's kicked around on the House's calendar for a few weeks now.
—
Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
People were kicked around in the pit, pancaked at the front of the stage, and the crowd surfing had a 90% fail rate.
—Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
The bestselling novelist specializes in women who have been kicked around by life.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
One of the ideas that has been kicked around is putting the playoff event in larger cities and more historic venues.
—Bob Buttitta, Oc Register, 23 Feb. 2026
One of the things that have been kicked around is a one-time 5% tax on billionaires.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 6 Jan. 2026
As the college football season winds down, Penn State is still operating with an interim head coach after the dismissal of James Franklin, and Roethlisberger kicked around the idea of Tomlin heading to Happy Valley to take over that program.
—Patrick Damp, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
The club had kicked around the idea of Suárez and Nola sharing an outing, but it was made official on Monday night after a gut-wrenching Game 2 loss.
—Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Other ideas kicked around over the years have been subsidized housing or even returning it to its history of entertainment, as a high-end theater and performing arts academy.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
People were kicked around in the pit, pancaked at the front of the stage, and the crowd surfing had a 90% fail rate.
—Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
The bestselling novelist specializes in women who have been kicked around by life.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
One of the ideas that has been kicked around is putting the playoff event in larger cities and more historic venues.
—Bob Buttitta, Oc Register, 23 Feb. 2026
One of the things that have been kicked around is a one-time 5% tax on billionaires.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 6 Jan. 2026
As the college football season winds down, Penn State is still operating with an interim head coach after the dismissal of James Franklin, and Roethlisberger kicked around the idea of Tomlin heading to Happy Valley to take over that program.
—Patrick Damp, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
The club had kicked around the idea of Suárez and Nola sharing an outing, but it was made official on Monday night after a gut-wrenching Game 2 loss.
—Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Other ideas kicked around over the years have been subsidized housing or even returning it to its history of entertainment, as a high-end theater and performing arts academy.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicked around
Verb
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Leonard’s deal with Aspiration occurred as Ballmer invested in the company and as the Clippers and Aspiration signed deals that contemplated a $300 million partnership for Aspiration to sponsor the Clippers’ arena and the team’s jersey patch.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The presence of the Sussexes would detract from that, and so, it cannot be contemplated.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Celtics played without Tatum after he was ruled out about 90 minutes before tipoff with left knee stiffness.—
Kyle Hightower,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, Ella was explaining to my mother why the teacher had sent a note home with her and recounting how her friend Stacy had played kitchen with a new girl during free time at school and allowed Ella to join them only for the cleanup part.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Escaped inmates roamed the streets of New Orleans under the watch of surveillance cameras.—
Patrick Smith,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In 2011, a cougar that had roamed the Northland two years earlier was found struck and killed on a Connecticut highway — more than 1,000 miles away.—
Jimmy Lovrien,
Twin Cities,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Jackson and his estate have denied that the pop star abused children.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The mothers of the victims said Chasing Horse betrayed their trust and abused sacred traditions.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After making his way back to the bench early in the fourth, Wagner was considered questionable to return due to a right calf strain.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Lung cancer is considered the leading cause of cancer deaths across the country, according to the American Lung Association.—
Marcella Baietto,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wash the Floor the Right Way Porch floors collect fine dust that gets kicked back into the air every time someone walks across them.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Wash the Floor the Right Way Porch floors collect fine dust that gets kicked back into the air if you only dry sweep.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The back parking lot, once a nasty no man’s land where drunken customers wandered off to urinate, has recently been transformed into a performance space that has hosted small gigs including Duane Betts.—
Jimmy Jellinek,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
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But, as Chen and Shrivastava wandered a Texas restaurant conference, a Dallas heating and air company called Rescue Air found them.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To be a kid, though, was to be bullied.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
The Wolves bullied Denver with offensive rebounds throughout the night, even when bruising backup center Jonas Valanciunas was on the floor.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicked around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicked%20around. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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