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
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
This send-off mixes new stunts with archival footage, promising the usual outlandish pranks and blunt-force impacts to sensitive bodily regions.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
The boys, who at the time were 16 and 17 years old, had been driving around San Mateo after midnight to play pranks on their classmates, stopping at Miceli’s house on the 1000 block of Annapolis Drive, prosecutors said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 13 May 2026
In the midst of one of their classic pranks, Ivy (Temple) and Ollie (Jordan) stumble into a magic flower and awaken in each other's body.
—Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
And compared to some of Fleury’s past pranks on teammates, a few misplaced letters on a nameplate would be relatively light.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2026
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
Tim Fang, CBS News, 14 May 2026
This send-off mixes new stunts with archival footage, promising the usual outlandish pranks and blunt-force impacts to sensitive bodily regions.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
The boys, who at the time were 16 and 17 years old, had been driving around San Mateo after midnight to play pranks on their classmates, stopping at Miceli’s house on the 1000 block of Annapolis Drive, prosecutors said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 13 May 2026
In the midst of one of their classic pranks, Ivy (Temple) and Ollie (Jordan) stumble into a magic flower and awaken in each other's body.
—Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
And compared to some of Fleury’s past pranks on teammates, a few misplaced letters on a nameplate would be relatively light.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pranks
Noun
-
As his tricks progressed, the Young Man felt horrified and confused at the same time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
From that moment on, people in Cuba have been unable to access El Estornudo except through technological tricks like VPNs and proxies that alter their geolocation.—
Abraham Jiménez Enoa,
The Dial,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
There’s also a chill place to hang post hanging ten, surf-wellness experiences, skateboarding clinics, and e-foiling.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
For many families, traveling is an exciting time—to meet new people, explore new destinations and create special experiences.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Despite living in the most landlocked part of the British midlands in the 1980s, we were obsessed with the adventures of these 1929 pre-war kids messing about on boats in the Lake District.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
The dog of outdoor adventures for seriously ill children was not, in other words, being wagged by the tail of the popular salad-dressing company.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
But the Aggies started to pick up steam in recent months and surged to earn his commitment, which could explain the saltiness from Canes fans regarding his announcement antics.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Her fans come for the jester-like antics and spectacle onstage.—
Lauren Giella,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
The scene used one of the film’s funniest visual gags, an apartment so crazily tilted that nobody inside it could stand up straight.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
There are hyper-local gags about the Williamsburg bar Union Pool and the undesirability of living in the Financial District, and a creature known as Rat Pizza — like Pizza Rat in reverse.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There’s also a spacious indoor area filled with educational toys and games, and the friendly staff facilitate thoughtful activities like Nautical Knot Tying, Anguillan Boat Racing, nature walks, steel drum lessons, and sports including soccer, basketball, volleyball, and pickleball.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
The Angels had won seven consecutive games against the Dodgers, the franchise’s longest winning streak against its crosstown rival.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Reserve a room at Sikelia, built around a group of typical dammusi, where the mud treatments at the spa alone are worth a stay, and dine at La Nicchia for swordfish with tomatoes, olives, and capers.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
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Add lemon juice, capers, and parsley right before serving to preserve color and flavor in this crowd-pleasing dish.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pranks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pranks. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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