1
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
tossing lighted firecrackers around is not the kind of harmless waggery that it might seem
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in laugh
something said or done to cause laughter
Will Rogers' homespun waggeries struck a chord with audiences during the Great Depression
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3
as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
her innocent little waggeries usually involved whoopee cushions or fake snakes in cans
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Recent Examples of waggery
To ask you to step into the parlor was Maggie’s favorite waggery, the divisions of her cabin being purely imaginary.
—
Gertrude A. Zerr, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
Gertrude A. Zerr, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waggery
Noun
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Accordingly, the werewolves and vampires generate much of their mischief and mayhem in the Kansas City area.—
Dan Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
29 Sep. 2025
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Backroom deals were struck between politicians and judges, and the upstairs once hosted a fair share of gambling and general mischief.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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McIlroy got the last laugh, though.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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Both donning their iconic dark sunglasses at the indoor event, the pair shared a hug and a laugh backstage.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Since mid-September, the global clothing and home goods store been going viral over a prank that continues to spread across social media.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
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The students allegedly sprayed the substance at their school on two occasions in May 2023 as a prank, prompting the school to be evacuated and causing six students to be taken to the hospital to be treated for headaches and nausea, according to KTRK.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But any lyrical intensity is undercut, to say the least, by the playfulness of Mercury’s vocals and the gleefully absurd operatic bits.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
24 Sep. 2025
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The final range is a blend of Enriquez’s playfulness and Jardini’s lighthearted sophistication, expressed via bold patterns, flashy prints and vibrant colors.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The uproar was centered around conservative outcry over a joke Kimmel told last week about the suspect accused of shooting Charlie Kirk.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
26 Sep. 2025
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This leads to many, many, many jokes about Chad’s diminished mental capacity, including references to Radio, Slingblade and more.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The most exciting feature is the realistic mask, though, which has mesh eyes for kids to see through while trick-or-treating, and an adjustable strap to fit their head properly.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
1 Oct. 2025
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Perhaps most frustrating, two Johnson attempts to dig into his trick bag misfired.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mustard and vinegar provide the devilment for a flavorful bite, particularly when topped with a scattering of scallions and paprika.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
5 Feb. 2025
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But even if truffles are beyond your pay grade, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had in the sheer devilment portrayed in this informative and appetizing book.—
Eugenia Bone,
WSJ,
10 July 2019
Noun
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Only an Aries, like Lily, can take Barney’s jabs in a joking way.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
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When Peanut pulled his second escape act, his owners knew where to look and handled Peanut's disappearance in a joking manner.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waggery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggery. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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