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
Of course, the pranks are all in good fun, with owners keeping things safe and playful.
—
Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
According to a 2025 roundup of April Fools’ food promotions by the New York Post, several national brands followed Dunkin’s lead by offering tangible rewards instead of traditional pranks.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Although both dates are the perfect excuse for laughs and small scares through pranks, their origins stem from different historical and religious events.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Just don't try anything like these pranks from companies that backfired in spectacular ways.
—Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Here are some of Louisville's April Fools' Day pranks from April 1, 2026.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Apr. 2026
On the Wednesday, April 1, episode of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, the daytime talk show host, 44, shared that her daughter Mila, 12, loves to pull pranks.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Folks would dip dresses and suits in glowing, phosphorescent paint and wear them around town performing various pranks or artistic displays.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Mar. 2026
Some in the art world speculate Banksy orchestrated the unmasking himself as a publicity stunt, consistent with his history of subversive pranks and satire.
—Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
According to a 2025 roundup of April Fools’ food promotions by the New York Post, several national brands followed Dunkin’s lead by offering tangible rewards instead of traditional pranks.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Although both dates are the perfect excuse for laughs and small scares through pranks, their origins stem from different historical and religious events.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Just don't try anything like these pranks from companies that backfired in spectacular ways.
—Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Here are some of Louisville's April Fools' Day pranks from April 1, 2026.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Apr. 2026
On the Wednesday, April 1, episode of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, the daytime talk show host, 44, shared that her daughter Mila, 12, loves to pull pranks.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Folks would dip dresses and suits in glowing, phosphorescent paint and wear them around town performing various pranks or artistic displays.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Mar. 2026
Some in the art world speculate Banksy orchestrated the unmasking himself as a publicity stunt, consistent with his history of subversive pranks and satire.
—Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pranks
Noun
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Small visual tricks are ubiquitous yet nothing here feels tacky.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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There are likely between 20,000 and 50,000 species of mycorrhizal fungi, each with its own tricks for tapping into different plants and harvesting nutrients using enzymes, acids, and water-mining structures.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Attending a joust is one of the quintessential renaissance festival experiences.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Two of the pre-tournament favorites, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, would like to hit the reset button on their 2026 Masters experiences.—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Everyday outings, like going to the grocery store, are exciting adventures for him.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Her career is filled with the kinds of on-the-ground adventures that should inspire plenty of wide-eyed journalism students who haven’t yet realized how much of the job is just staring at laptop screens.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Co-created by and starring Dan Levy, the darkly funny series mixes dysfunctional family antics with the drama of being pulled into an organized crime ring.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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Just like that, the whole family's back together, and the unruly antics that made Malcolm in the Middle a classic are back in full force.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Litles detailed in the complaint and in an interview with the Tribune how their frisky escapades, appearance and young children seemed to increasingly agitate residents and staff.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
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Aqua Expeditions Specializing in lavish small‑ship voyages to some of the planet’s most pristine and remote waters, Aqua Expeditions’ newest vessel, Aqua Lares, is a 77‑meter expedition superyacht designed for adventurous travelers who crave a high dose of comfort with their outdoor escapades.—
Elycia Rubin,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Kelly’s videos, delivered in her distinctive, pitchy voice (think Valley girl with notes of humdrum detachment a la the famously monotone comedian Ben Stein), are both personal and woven with running gags.—
Rachel Brodsky,
Rolling Stone,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Allen’s shows are designed to be evergreens with few topical gags so they can be repeated.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Twins have at least one home run in 24 consecutive games in Toronto, hitting 51 total homers in those games.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Portland's Shaedon Sharpe returned after missing the last 28 games and finished with eight points in 15 minutes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These crime capers range from small-town jobs to border-crossing schemes, all with settings that feel as developed as the characters themselves.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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One of Banchetti’s latest favorites is sole with lemon butter and capers.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pranks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pranks. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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