as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
friends had left the risqué message on his voice mail as a practical joke
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of practical joke
Frightening as these prank calls are, their recipients refuse to take the message seriously, because surely the whole thing is just a macabre practical joke.
—
Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2025
Over the last year, Beckinsale has continued sharing moments with her mom on social media — from playing practical jokes on Loe to celebrating her 78th birthday in the hospital singing a song during treatments.
—Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 18 July 2025
The unofficial holiday encourages pulling light-hearted pranks, practical jokes, hoaxes or hijinks on others.
—David Wysong, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
And thus Hayes' rival is Joshua Pearce (played by Damson Idris), a young driver in his first season who sees no reason to trust a driver whose arrival in his team mid-season seems more like a practical joke.
—ArsTechnica, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for practical joke
Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2025
Over the last year, Beckinsale has continued sharing moments with her mom on social media — from playing practical jokes on Loe to celebrating her 78th birthday in the hospital singing a song during treatments.
—Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 18 July 2025
The unofficial holiday encourages pulling light-hearted pranks, practical jokes, hoaxes or hijinks on others.
—David Wysong, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
And thus Hayes' rival is Joshua Pearce (played by Damson Idris), a young driver in his first season who sees no reason to trust a driver whose arrival in his team mid-season seems more like a practical joke.
—ArsTechnica, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for practical joke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practical joke
Noun
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What a great prank to pull on your deer hunting buddy.—
Josh Honeycutt,
Outdoor Life,
30 Oct. 2025
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The comedy horror film revolves around Brian (Tyler Perry) forbidding his daughter Tiffany (Diamond White) from attending a frat party, which sets off a string of Halloween pranks.—
Ariana Quihuiz,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The oldest trick in the book … foiled by those pesky Bravo cameras.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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The next evolution of creative culture isn’t faster turnaround or cooler AI tricks.—
Rochelle Ratkaj,
Rolling Stone,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Efforts to compete with Amazon during its ascent in the 2010s had department stores playing catchup on supply chain prowess and integrating stores with e-commerce—sometimes to the detriment of in-store experience.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
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Despite his lack of coaching experience at the MLB level, Vitello was named manager of the San Francisco Giants last month.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Cultural Appreciation Beyond the exhilarating adventures, another compelling element of the Mørketid in Norway itinerary is the intentional interaction with and support of local communities.—
Susan B. Barnes,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Places to Visit Moreton Island A 75-minute ferry from Brisbane, Moreton is the world’s third-largest sand island—a playground of turquoise lagoons, rolling dunes, and off-grid adventures for the picking.—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Practical joke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practical%20joke. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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