knavery

noun

ˈnā-və-rē How to pronounce knavery (audio)
Definition of knaverynext
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

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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
  1. prank
  2. mischief
  3. trick
  4. rascality
  5. roguery
  6. devilment
Noun
  • Eric André and Schulz were always making jokes and filming prank videos.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Prosecutors say Canadian visitor Mitchell Fairbarn took Peachy from the Flamingo Las Vegas habitat in a drunk prank and injured the bird; his lawyer says Fairbarn never intended harm.
    — Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of prank
Noun
  • Initially, the couple was arrested on charges of reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, burglary and misdemeanor climbing of a structure.
    — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Ryan faces multiple charges, including criminal mischief and resisting an officer.
    — Bri Buckley, CBS News, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of mischief
Noun
  • Tickets for the children’s museum’s trick-or-treat morning cost $3 per person aged 1 and older, and members may attend for free.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • More Life Kit on home organization 5 clever design tricks to make a small home look bigger.
    — Andee Tagle, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of trick
Noun
  • Still, the pure rascality in these extravagant self-inventions shouldn’t be overlooked.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of rascality
Noun
  • America, this is a level of pure double-dealing, roguery, and downright villainy ne’er witnessed on this television program.
    — Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2021
  • 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
Definition of roguery
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
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.

Browse Nearby Words

knaveries
knavery
knaves
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Cite this Entry

“Knavery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knavery. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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