as in pranks
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
friends had left the risqué message on his voice mail as a practical joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of practical jokes
With over 300 episodes to shoot, there was time for some practical jokes.
—
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practical jokes
Noun
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This is an utterly throwaway slice of college comedy, rather more concerned with sports, pranks, and teen/20-something romance than getting lost on the final frontier.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Authorities have cited social media in the trend, with videos of the pranks circulating on TikTok and other platforms.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That idea became Take Me on a Story, turning Treasure Island, Call of the Wild, and Studio Ghibli films into immersive experiences (custom for clients, of course).—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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One of his most memorable experiences came in 2008 with a moment in class involving a quiet student.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Our focus on our own ingroup makes our brains play tricks on us.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Just another one of his show-stopping tricks.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For more of her adventures, delicious finds, and tiny moments, follow along on Instagram @juliaviele.—
Julia Viele,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
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Full Serpent is intended to offer more of Green’s adventures in a future landscape where the past is always poking through the dust, bubbling over with color and life.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Practical jokes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practical%20jokes. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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