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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pranks
Noun
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Davis occasionally destabilizes this very familiar soundtrack with sly production tricks from Horne.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
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However, deer are adaptable creatures and often get used to the tricks put in their path, eventually ignoring attempts to deter them, Walke says.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Contemporary sculpture, by contrast, is born transient, and can enact only contingent experiences of belonging.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Certain experiences, products, atmospheres, audiences, or values appeal to different customers, and each business cultivates a unique environment through its operations.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Noun
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His incredulity about their increasingly risky adventures—this is the one that involves a Pontiac Fiero in outer space—becomes one of the film’s running gags.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Shore Excursions Shore excursions range from highly active adventures to more sedate cultural experiences.—
Aaron Saunders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On Saturday night, attendees at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner will thrill to the antics of Oz Pearlman, a renowned mentalist who dazzles audiences with mind-reading tricks.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
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In the lead-up to the matchup in Detroit, the ESPN broadcast shared a live shot of members of the Magic partaking in some pre-game antics.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 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
-
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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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
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However, the iconic couch gags are far less frequent these days.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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An epic comeback and an epic bounce defined two games that forced Game 7s on Friday night.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
2 May 2026
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Blake Bowen hit a home run in all three games.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Noun
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This Italian salsa verde is a traditional herb sauce made with parsley, garlic, and capers.—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
24 Apr. 2026
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Anyone returning from a city trip and regretting not having eaten a Käsekrainer at the famous Betzinger sausage stand in front of the Albertina Museum will find a snack in the suite with various cheeses, ham, gherkins, and capers—an accidental direct hit.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pranks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pranks. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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