1
as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
the sort of frat-boy knaveries that become the stuff of campus legend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
suspects some knavery going on in the political campaign
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knavery
Noun
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The family of a Hall County teacher killed in what investigators say was a prank gone wrong is asking authorities to drop charges against the teens involved.—
Jamal Goss,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026 -
The longtime teacher knew the teens were coming to pull a prank on him and was waiting to catch them in the act, the family's statement said.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That’s likely why his movie is more daring in its humor and tone, bringing a refreshing infusion of mischief to Pixar while maintaining the genuine emotional gravitas that has endeared the company to audiences for over 30 years.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Toni Rice, 44, pleaded guilty to charges of criminal mischief, tampering with physical evidence, intimidating a participant in the legal process and tampering with a witness, as well as misdemeanor charges of failing to stop and render aid, falsely reporting an incident and official misconduct.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The trick is whether Anthropic can hold onto its soul in the process.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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It's riddled with cheffy tricks but not in alienating way.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Still, the pure rascality in these extravagant self-inventions shouldn’t be overlooked.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
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Naturally, such rascality didn't do overall fuel economy any favors; in fact, my average was just 20 mpg (11.8 L/100 km) over the course of 125 miles at the E 350's helm.—
Peter Nelson,
Ars Technica,
18 Apr. 2024
Noun
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That’s flimflam, that’s roguery.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2022
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His own father, famously, had been a confidence trickster, and le Carré was therefore all too well equipped to mount a lifelong investigation into the uses of roguery, not to mention sleights of hand, some of them amounting to a national disgrace.—
Anthony Lane,
The New Yorker,
14 Dec. 2020
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
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Cite this Entry
“Knavery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knavery. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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