WAGGERY Synonyms: 151 Similar and Opposite Words

waggery

noun

ˈwa-gə-rē

Definition of waggery

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in joke

something said or done to cause laughter Will Rogers' homespun waggeries struck a chord with audiences during the Great Depression

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waggery

Noun

Both juveniles were charged with two misdemeanor counts of harassment, one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief and two criminal trespassing violations.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Police said a 16-year-old and 17-year-old were both charged with harassment, criminal mischief and criminal trespassing.

— Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of mischief

Noun

Its frothy, pastel hues and single moment of contrived levity (when one dance claims a trumpet solo for a joke about jamming her toe) is one of those quintessential examples of Balanchine’s repertoire showing its age.

— Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
And the Longhorns’ quarterback, Arch Manning, was the butt of the joke.

— Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of joke

Noun

The company claimed an unfinished code left in the system, part of a prank, led to the crash.

— Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Orenstein acted and wrote for the CBC variety program The Barris Beat, produced by Norman Jewison, then moved to New York in 1965 and landed on the CBS prank show Candid Camera.

— Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of prank

Noun

Mazzoli’s score has its moments of playfulness, starting with the prologue in which the chorus members blow into kazoos.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Burnt out and bored, people started reincorporating playfulness into their lives with outfit updates and bedazzled everything.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of playfulness

Noun

But acknowledging a property’s cheesy elements isn’t the same as generating consistent laughs from the situation.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Among the biggest laughs of the ceremony came during Friml’s take on an awards-show in memoriam.

— Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of laugh

Noun

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
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

Definition of devilment

Noun

Russell was mentioned in that speech, but in a joking way, playing off of how frequent Oscars director Glenn Weiss, who won for his role helming the 2018 Academy Awards telecast, had used his speech to propose to his then-girlfriend.

— Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Arch Manning's joking comments at a news conference about a fake video of coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted in controversy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of joking

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waggeries

waggery

wagging

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“Waggery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggery. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of waggery

noun

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