frolic 1 of 3

noun

Definition of frolicnext
1
as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke we indulgently listened to the senior citizens share memories of long-ago frolics

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in spree
a time or instance of carefree fun took the long weekend as a three-day frolic and spent it at the beach

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in relaxation
activity engaged in to amuse oneself firmly believes that childhood should be a time of carefree frolic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

frolic

2 of 3

adjective

ˈfrä-lik How to pronounce frolic (audio)
as in joyful
joyously unrestrained the frolic atmosphere that envelops New Orleans during Mardi Gras

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

frolic

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to cavort
to play and run about happily scores of swimmers were frolicking in the ocean surf along the beach

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to play
to engage in activity for amusement he would rather frolic than do yard work any day of the week

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 frolic
Noun
And Ben Ahlers, who plays the adult Happy, comes with that actor’s famously warm smile and chirpy demeanor, slowly worn down here before your eyes, as the permissible frolics of youth turn into the stasis of one going nowhere. — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026 And Ben Ahlers, who plays Happy, comes of course with that actor’s famously warm smile and chirpy demeanor, slowly worn down here before your eyes, as the permissible frolics of youth turn into the stasis of one going nowhere. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Go ahead, frolic outdoors, but be alert to the seasonal hazards! — Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 26 June 2025 Pods of porpoises frolic, and a playful minke whale shimmers in the afternoon sun. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2024
Verb
Earlier this week, the actress, 35, broke out yet another pair of the sporty bottoms while frolicking around New York City. — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026 One prompted stories of an old cowboy sitting alone on a porch, surveying a ghost town; another prompted stories about a sun rising over a meadow, where tiny creatures awakened and started to frolic. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for frolic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frolic
  1. prank
  2. spree
  3. relaxation
  4. joyful
  5. cavort
  6. play
  7. adventure
  8. romp
Noun
  • The tradition dates to Glasgow, where placing bright orange traffic cones atop public statues began as a late-night prank in the 1980s before evolving into an unofficial symbol of the country’s irreverent humor.
    — Leah Willingham, Fortune, 15 July 2026
  • Baudrillard is playing a little textual prank on us, inserting the simulacrum of a quotation into a book about simulacra.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Definition of prank
Noun
  • Stocks in Asia and the United States fell Friday after technological advances announced by a Chinese artificial intelligence company intensified concerns that the AI spending spree driving this year’s market rally could be at risk.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Following a 35-minute ambient companion to ILIIAITE released a year later, Loathe have been in road-dog mode, accompanying everyone from Knocked Loose to Korn to Three Days Grace on a near-constant spree of world tours.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026
Definition of spree
Noun
  • The adjacent pool area is a dream for young kids—and any parent wanting a few minutes of worry-free relaxation on one of the deck chairs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
  • Baby yoga and reflexology sessions encourage relaxation and parent-child bonding.
    — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 14 July 2026
Definition of relaxation
Adjective
  • At their best, joyful and generative, with an infectious appetite for life.
    — Christina Pérez, Vogue, 17 July 2026
  • Introducing his staff to an editorial process has been, by Cook’s account, a joyful one in its own right.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Definition of joyful
Verb
  • McGinley photographed models cavorting naked (always naked) through sand dunes in the Mojave Desert and pine forests in Vermont, in a frigid ice cave in upstate New York and perched above a rushing waterfall in Tennessee.
    — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
  • Sea-facing rooms have views of passing ships, cavorting dolphins and the magnificent sunsets.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026
Definition of cavort
Verb
  • The bridge — which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario — was named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe who played for the Detroit Red Wings, symbolizing the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
  • Starling Marte moved over to right field and Isaac Collins came in to play left field.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Definition of play
Noun
  • Unlike traditional nail polish, gel can withstand any of your final summer adventures without chipping or scuffing.
    — Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 19 July 2026
  • The play’s romantic and military adventures are enlivened by the two squabbling supporting character, Beatrice and Benedick.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
Definition of adventure
Noun
  • Andrés Chaparro went 4 for 5 with two home runs and eight RBIs as the Washington Nationals handed the Athletics their 10th straight defeat in a 23-4 romp Friday night.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
  • The Blue Blur is set to race to the box office next year for the franchise’s fourth gold ring-collecting romp.
    — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Definition of romp

Browse Nearby Words

frocks
frolic
frolicked
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Frolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frolic. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on frolic

Nglish: Translation of frolic for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All