Mess around is commonly used in informal language to describe someone who is procrastinating or wasting time. There are several synonyms for the term mess around, including goof off, play around, dawdle, lollygag, and tinker. Goof off suggests playful behavior that wastes time but could also be a source of entertainment. Play around implies spending time without any real purpose. Dawdle can refer to moving at a slow pace or delaying in completing tasks. Lollygag implies wasting time in idleness or leisure activities. Tinker suggests spending time engaging in small, insignificant tasks or activities. Overall, these synonyms all convey a sense of time-wasting and lack of productivity.