as in tricks
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
as a prank, several students managed to change all the classroom clocks to different times
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Recent Examples of pranks
Senior pranks Senior pranks had long been a rite of passage at Newark, Leggett said.
—
Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
In Lebanon, a look-alike delivery driver posts satirical videos and pranks unsuspecting residents, showing the fear Adraee inspires.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
In Lebanon, a look-alike delivery driver posts satirical videos and pranks unsuspecting residents, showing the fear Adraee inspires.
—ABC News, 8 June 2026
Jokes and pranks and magic tricks.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
The festival is rooted in the story of Lord Krishna, the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is said to have played pranks by splashing maids with water and colors.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
It is rooted in the story of Lord Krishna, a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who played pranks splashing maids with water and colors.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
The Timberwolves were up 2-1 against their bitter rivals, and there was DiVincenzo, playing pranks and laughing devilishly.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Shortly after midnight on May 25, prosecutors said the same group of teens were driving around San Mateo pulling pranks on classmates from Hillsdale High School.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
In Lebanon, a look-alike delivery driver posts satirical videos and pranks unsuspecting residents, showing the fear Adraee inspires.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
In Lebanon, a look-alike delivery driver posts satirical videos and pranks unsuspecting residents, showing the fear Adraee inspires.
—ABC News, 8 June 2026
Jokes and pranks and magic tricks.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
The festival is rooted in the story of Lord Krishna, the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is said to have played pranks by splashing maids with water and colors.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
It is rooted in the story of Lord Krishna, a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who played pranks splashing maids with water and colors.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
The Timberwolves were up 2-1 against their bitter rivals, and there was DiVincenzo, playing pranks and laughing devilishly.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Shortly after midnight on May 25, prosecutors said the same group of teens were driving around San Mateo pulling pranks on classmates from Hillsdale High School.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pranks
Noun
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One of my nerdiest hip-hop fan instincts is trying to catch the subtle ways production tricks and flows migrate from one city to the next, like an invasive species.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
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One of his greatest joys was performing magic tricks alongside his granddaughter.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Noun
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To safeguard the protection of visitors, visitor experiences, and park resources, many demonstrations require a permit.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
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Internal prototypes accidentally go live because there's no review process, leading to customer confusion or poor AI experiences.—
Bernard Aceituno,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
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Co-directed by the singer, the clip was artfully shot and empathetically told, and got fans sufficiently invested that Kiyoko eventually published a YA novel expanding the adventures of its young lovers, Coley and Sonya.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
17 June 2026
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Ocean Explorer is a perfect ship for adventures in the polar regions; book a trip to Svalbard for hiking, polar bear (and walrus and arctic fox and reindeer) sightings, and kayaking.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Semi-professional streamers encouraged antics for cameras suspended on gimbals, which attracted the surrounding crowd to pull out their personal devices, only for the commotion to inspire attention from legacy news crews.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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The pair got…more than a little unstable by the end of season 2, their antics dealt with by family fixer Harry Da Souza, played by Hardy, who effectively leads the series.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
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Originally released across platforms like the original PlayStation, Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, the titles follow Tommy Pickles and the rest of the gang on adventures ranging from puzzle-solving missions to globe-trotting escapades.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
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New escapades come and go, but the structure of their life stays the same — the two of them, moving together.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the actors are reduced to joke machines trapped in a nonsensical nonplot, and while some of those gags yield laughs, a far greater number fall flat.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
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Jokes, gags, set pieces, and even whole characters and storylines slowly get chiseled down and weeded out through development, production, and post-production.—
Entertainment Weekly,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
Noun
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The Americans will face Australia in the second of three group-stage games next Friday in Seattle, where a draw will all but guarantee them a spot in the round of 32, something Pulisic said should be just the first objective for this team.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
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Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Wendy Naugle,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Noun
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In place of this slice of Americana is the cartoony Mickey Avenue which is themed to classic capers featuring Disney's mascot.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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White wine, shallots, and lemon zest and juice build on what the butter and garlic get started, and a couple tablespoons of capers give the dish a zesty tang.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pranks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pranks. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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