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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of pranks
CrowdStrike senior vice president of counter adversary Adam Meyers told Fortune these techniques have been honed after years of escalating pranks in video game spaces.
—
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Tucker, Connor and Carson began rising to TikTok fame in 2019 with their viral videos featuring lifestyle content, family pranks, comedy skits and food and sports challenges.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
When she’s not dressed up like a giant turkey for Thanksgiving or helping her grandson pull pranks on an unsuspecting public, Granny is hugging up on professional athletes at games and on red carpets.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 14 Dec. 2025
The Onion, the book posits, shows that college-style pranks can lead to real change while also earning comedians some cash; after all, the paper began as a way to sell ads.
—Brian Boone, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Smith was known for her funny social media videos about the weather, holidays, behind-the-scenes moments at the station, and scare pranks targeting anchor Rhori Johnston, The Tennessean previously reported.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 14 Nov. 2025
Across 22 minutes, Kimmel told hilarious tales of youthful pranks, parties, bad advice, and much more, the lived stuff that occurs only when two people live out of each other’s pockets.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2025
As a kid growing up in Las Vegas, Cleto Escobedo and his best friend delighted in playing pranks together.
—NPR, 12 Nov. 2025
Alumni hold debates and students from each school often pull pranks on the other.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Tucker, Connor and Carson began rising to TikTok fame in 2019 with their viral videos featuring lifestyle content, family pranks, comedy skits and food and sports challenges.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
When she’s not dressed up like a giant turkey for Thanksgiving or helping her grandson pull pranks on an unsuspecting public, Granny is hugging up on professional athletes at games and on red carpets.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 14 Dec. 2025
The Onion, the book posits, shows that college-style pranks can lead to real change while also earning comedians some cash; after all, the paper began as a way to sell ads.
—Brian Boone, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Smith was known for her funny social media videos about the weather, holidays, behind-the-scenes moments at the station, and scare pranks targeting anchor Rhori Johnston, The Tennessean previously reported.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 14 Nov. 2025
Across 22 minutes, Kimmel told hilarious tales of youthful pranks, parties, bad advice, and much more, the lived stuff that occurs only when two people live out of each other’s pockets.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2025
As a kid growing up in Las Vegas, Cleto Escobedo and his best friend delighted in playing pranks together.
—NPR, 12 Nov. 2025
Alumni hold debates and students from each school often pull pranks on the other.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pranks
Noun
-
There is no one organizational system that fits every family and lifestyle, but there are some tips and tricks that help.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
-
So what are their go-to tricks for creating a space worth hibernating in?—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Like most fiction, it’s made up of experiences, imagination, ideas, memories, emotions, speculation, knowledge and research.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
But most of my energy is spent getting our family through the day and fighting for all of my kids to have equal access to life’s experiences.—
Jaclyn Greenberg,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
And every season delivers fresh adventures set against a backdrop of epic scenery.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Follow her adventures at @ashleahalpern.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Two of the monkeys had applauded the event with hopping and grunts, but the other three had shot like arrows into the trees, chasing after the peculiar bird that had remained indifferent to their antics.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
After all, besties Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone are both nominated in separate categories this year, which also bodes well for red-carpet antics and fashion moments alike.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
No one knows why; no one has a telephone in the rural Blue Ridge Mountains, so John Boy sets out into a winter storm to find his daddy, having various escapades with the quirky residents of their backwoods community—a Black preacher, a pair of old-lady bootleggers, a turkey thief—along the way.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Dec. 2025
-
The streamer still has time to decide whether Emily's eventful European escapades will continue.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
And yet to take nothing away from the great John Landis and Amy Heckerling, journeyman director Jeremiah Chechik does the best job in bringing all of Hughes’s gags to brilliant visual life.—
Kevin Doughten,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Dec. 2025
-
Perhaps the more vulgar visual gags with butts and such look a little more innocent in 3D?—
Lindsey Bahr,
Boston Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Purdy missed eight of the first 10 games with a toe injury, Kittle was out six with hamstring and ankle injuries, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk went AWOL after a 2024 knee injury.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Though the Heat is returning home for three games, Miami won’t be heavily favored to win any of them.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Add a handful of olives or capers for extra briny punch, or stir in a splash of cream at the end for a richer sauce.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Pre-bud salmonberries are fermented into capers, cedar tree pods are blended with sumac to create a faux lime juice, and haskap berries gave my morning kombucha its vermillion hue.—
Katie Nanton,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pranks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pranks. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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