Thesaurus

knavery

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of knavery

1 a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke

the sort of frat-boy knaveries that become the stuff of campus legend

Synonyms of knavery

antic, caper, capriccio, dido, escapade, frolic, gag, jest, monkeyshine(s), practical joke, prank, rag [chiefly British], roguery, shavie [Scottish], shine(s), trick, waggery

Words Related to knavery

adventure, experience, game, lark, time

high jinks (also hijinks), horseplay, play, roughhousing, rowdyism

shenanigan(s), tomfoolery

joking, kidding, teasing

gambit, hoax, maneuver, ploy

deed, feat, mission, performance, stunt

caprice, conceit, fancy, vagary, whim, whimsy (also whimsey)

deceit, deception, delusion, fooling, fraud, hanky-panky, hoodwinking, ruse, sham, stratagem, subterfuge, trickery, wile

2 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm

suspects some knavery going on in the political campaign

Synonyms of knavery

devilishness, devilment, devilry (or deviltry), diablerie, espièglerie, hob, impishness, mischief, mischievousness, rascality, roguery, roguishness, shenanigan(s), waggery, waggishness, wickedness

Words Related to knavery

diabolicalness, misbehavior, misconduct, naughtiness, troublemaking

buffoonery, friskiness, playfulness, sportiveness

chicanery, trickery

goings-on, hanky-panky, high jinks (also hijinks), monkey business, monkeying, monkeyshine(s), skylarking, tomfoolery

horseplay, roughhousing

antic, caper, dido, practical joke, trick

aggravation, annoyance, exasperation, irritation

Near Antonyms of knavery

gravitas, gravity, seriousness, solemnity, solemnness

Learn More about knavery

See words that rhyme with knavery Dictionary: Definition of knavery

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up knavery? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

secrete

to deposit or conceal in a hiding place

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games