1
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
students engaging in youthful shenanigans on the last day of school
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tomfoolery
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
an act of vandalism that went way beyond the usual shenanigans at summer camp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shenanigans
Check back for morning-after recaps of weekday episodes and a Monday roundup of the weekend’s shenanigans.
—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Now, both in their 20s, their childhood shenanigans have turned into conversations about college classes, work and a deep love and respect for one another.
—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The Tartan Army has gone viral on social media for their shenanigans and infectious energy.
—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
Clark might be a somewhat unpopular champ, after a handful of embarrassing shenanigans the past few years.
—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
21 June 2026
My parents were not the sort to tolerate teen-age drinking shenanigans.
—
Sarah Miller,
New Yorker,
20 June 2026
More shenanigans were provided at the next World Cup in Spain.
—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
The financial shenanigans carried out by a single employee went undiscovered for nearly three years – where were the company’s auditors or the board’s audit committee?
—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes,
7 Jan. 2025
The New Age After more than a year of courtroom shenanigans, the YSL trial finally ends.
—
Rob Marriott,
VIBE.com,
30 Dec. 2024
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Now, both in their 20s, their childhood shenanigans have turned into conversations about college classes, work and a deep love and respect for one another.
—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The Tartan Army has gone viral on social media for their shenanigans and infectious energy.
—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
Clark might be a somewhat unpopular champ, after a handful of embarrassing shenanigans the past few years.
—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
21 June 2026
My parents were not the sort to tolerate teen-age drinking shenanigans.
—
Sarah Miller,
New Yorker,
20 June 2026
More shenanigans were provided at the next World Cup in Spain.
—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
The financial shenanigans carried out by a single employee went undiscovered for nearly three years – where were the company’s auditors or the board’s audit committee?
—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes,
7 Jan. 2025
The New Age After more than a year of courtroom shenanigans, the YSL trial finally ends.
—
Rob Marriott,
VIBE.com,
30 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigans
Noun
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Saul Vargas of Saint Cloud, Florida was also charged with criminal mischief on June 15.
-
State police said Werhan was arrested on charges of third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, third-degree criminal mischief, unlawful restraint, second-degree threatening, interfering with a 911 call and second-degree reckless endangerment.
Noun
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The project has been plagued by technical issues, supplier disputes, and alleged tomfoolery—empty mini tequila bottles were reportedly discovered on one of the airplanes under construction.
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The latest tomfoolery consisted of a posting on Twitter/X last week that provided a picture of a genuine Monet painting, and the picture was labeled as supposedly being AI-generated.
Noun
-
Alite faces multiple counts of extortion, corporate misconduct, loansharking and terroristic threats.
-
Councilman John Alite, 63, of Englishtown, was arrested on Friday and charged with multiple counts of theft by extortion, corporate misconduct, usury and terroristic threats, according to the New Jersey Attorney General's office.
Noun
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Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
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Still, Yoon’s joking somehow lightens the mood.
Noun
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The show, with its interest in corporate buffoonery, doesn’t quite manage to hand-wave away the queasy implications.
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Receivers have cratered seasons with me-over-we buffoonery.
Noun
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The clowning might be a little too effortful.
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As the race unfolds in real time, there’s clowning, collisions, sabotage, surprises, comedy, chaos and more.
Noun
-
When horseplay turns into an impromptu hookup, neither of the young men fight the urge.
-
After France’s 4-3 victory against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, horseplay between the players at the team hotel culminated in back-up centre-back Adil Rami setting off a fire extinguisher in the early hours of the morning.
Noun
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As expected, Aussies brought the roughhousing.
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The boys challenge each other to throw heavy objects, which leads to intense roughhousing.
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigans. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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