Definition of practical joke
: a prank intended to trick or embarrass someone or cause physical discomfort
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Examples of practical joke in a Sentence
One of the children filled the sugar bowl with salt as a practical joke.
friends had left the risqué message on his voice mail as a practical joke
Recent Examples of practical joke from the Web
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The cost of the fish, packaging and international shipping amounted to about $150, all for what Meeks calls a big practical joke.
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Spring-training suspense revolved more around what practical joke would come next more than who would make the team.
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Family gatherings were always peppered with recollections of their antics and practical jokes.
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But no, this wasn’t any kind of practical joke or movie scene.
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Over the years, his greatest practical jokes include: Filling towels with shaving cream.
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Katy is insanely funny, unapologetically honest, outrageously creative, and a little mischievous (the woman loves a practical joke and a prank gift).
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Elizabeth Blackwell Facts Blackwell’s acceptance to Geneva College was intended as a practical joke, according to the Women’s History Museum.
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From Google's sly tricks to Twitter's wacky gags, here's a roundup of the Internet's most popular practical jokes of April 1st, 2013.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'practical joke.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of practical joke
1776
practical joke Synonyms
Synonyms
antic, caper, dido, escapade, frolic, gag, jest, knavery, monkeyshine(s), prank, roguery, trick, waggery;
Related Words
high jinks (also hijinks), horseplay, play, roughhousing, rowdyism;
caprice, conceit, fancy, vagary, whim, whimsy (also whimsey);
fraud, hanky-panky, hoodwinking, ruse, sham, stratagem, subterfuge, trickery, wile;
PRACTICAL JOKE Defined for English Language Learners
practical joke
Definition of practical joke for English Language Learners
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: a joke involving something that is done rather than said : a trick played on someone
PRACTICAL JOKE Defined for Kids
practical joke
Definition of practical joke for Students
: a joke involving an act rather than words : a trick played on someone
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practical joker
nounLearn More about practical joke
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for practical joke Spanish Central: Translation of practical joke Nglish: Translation of practical joke for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about practical joke
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