Synonyms of shenanigan

shenanigan

noun

shə-ˈna-ni-gən 

1

as in mischief

usually shenanigans plural playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm

students engaging in youthful shenanigans on the last day of school

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mischief
• misconduct
• devilment
• playfulness
• mischievousness
• rascality
• roguishness
• devilry
• knavery
• wickedness
• devilishness
• roguery
• irritation
• waggishness
• impishness
• exasperation
• waggery
• hob
• diablerie
• misbehavior
• tomfoolery
• buffoonery
• espièglerie
• trickery
• troublemaking
• chicanery
• naughtiness
• hanky-panky
• goings-on
• annoyance
• caper
• friskiness
• trick
• horseplay
• monkeying
• high jinks
• skylarking
• sportiveness
• antic
• practical joke
• diabolicalness
• roughhousing
• monkey business
• aggravation
• monkeyshine(s)
• dido

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gravity
• seriousness
• solemnity
• gravitas
• solemnness

2

as in joking

usually shenanigans plural wildly playful or mischievous behavior

an act of vandalism that went way beyond the usual shenanigans at summer camp

Synonyms & Similar Words

• joking
• tomfoolery
• funning
• buffoonery
• clowning
• monkeying
• horseplay
• mischief
• clownery
• foolery
• high jinks
• skylarking
• roughhousing
• playfulness
• roughhouse
• slapstick
• sporting
• nonsense
• monkey business
• horsing around
• monkeyshine(s)
• trickery
• childishness
• jesting
• rowdiness
• silliness
• rowdyism
• foolishness
• rascality
• clownishness
• boisterousness
• rambunctiousness
• roguishness
• merrymaking
• frivolity
• revelry
• mischievousness
• devilry
• knavery
• prankishness
• frolicking
• roguery
• roistering
• waggery
• rumbustiousness
• romping
• cavorting
• impishness
• sportiveness
• gamboling

3

as in ruse

a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end

the street-corner huckster of pirated DVDs had all sorts of shenanigans to keep the cops off of his tail

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ruse
• scheme
• trick
• device
• stratagem
• ploy
• gambit
• jig
• flimflam
• fetch
• sleight of hand
• gimmick
• dodge
• knack
• sleight
• bluff
• wile
• deception
• trickery
• subterfuge
• hoax
• play
• chicanery
• juggle
• artifice
• cunning
• skulduggery
• duplicity
• cheating
• swindling
• feint
• fakery
• legerdemain
• end run
• swindle
• fraud
• jugglery
• sham
• gaff
• cozenage
• crookery
• dupery
• blind
• craft
• smoke screen
• front

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shenanigan

With Logout’s punk credentials and Margo XS’s keen ear for self-referential, post-hyperpop production, HARDBODY’s hero’s journey is sarcastically relatable, like getting roasted in the group chat for last night’s shenanigans. — Cameron Cook, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026

Eight years of multiverse shenanigans and momentum-killing Disney Plus shows have reduced the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the most reliable money-printing machine in film history to a sadly confused shadow of its former self. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 July 2026

Director Jake Kasdan also returns new shenanigans and adventures as the videogame characters navigate the real world. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 28 July 2026

Expect joint shenanigans from Hiedeman and Williams once their obligations are through on Friday night. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 24 July 2026

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