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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hijinks
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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shenanigan
Marvel’s last stinger, the one that played after Captain America: Brave New World, involved people standing around and speculating about what team-building and multiversal shenanigans might occur before the next big crossover, Avengers: Doomsday.
—
Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 2 May 2025
Driving the news: The season of bear shenanigans is underway, with human run-ins rising.
—Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 14 Apr. 2025
Some offbeat but necessary casting shenanigans here: Jimmy Smits played Bail Organa in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith (which is, like it or not, where a lot of the infrastructure for Andor and Rogue One came from).
—Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025
Both seasons will each consist of 10 episodes, and continue to follow the wacky shenanigans and nonsensical adventures of the titular characters.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 2 May 2025
Driving the news: The season of bear shenanigans is underway, with human run-ins rising.
—Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 14 Apr. 2025
Some offbeat but necessary casting shenanigans here: Jimmy Smits played Bail Organa in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith (which is, like it or not, where a lot of the infrastructure for Andor and Rogue One came from).
—Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025
Both seasons will each consist of 10 episodes, and continue to follow the wacky shenanigans and nonsensical adventures of the titular characters.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigan
Noun
-
As a result, she was charged with one count of criminal mischief.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2025
-
In New Jersey, a 15-year-old Belleville High School student was charged with third-degree arson and criminal mischief after allegedly setting a Chromebook on fire, NJ.com reported.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Can Charity, who is not exactly mentally stable, maintain the ruse forever?—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
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Despite multiple interviews, background checks, and reference calls, the ruse held until malware activity triggered an alert.—
Alonzo Martinez,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The business-as-usual approach dovetails with a year of acts from Brand New to Ryan Adams looking to put a wide range of allegations of misconduct in the rearview mirror by giving diehards a show of talent to talk about instead and little else.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
13 May 2025
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Substantial misconduct, Murphy said in the filing, can also warrant the disqualification of a prosecutor.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
Hometown’s stock price rose by more than 900% during the scheme.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
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In 2021 and 2022, Robinson received about $76,000 through the bogus billing scheme, according to prosecutors.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2025
Noun
-
Would that all life could be filled with such tomfoolery.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
-
Another aspect to note is that the AI didn’t ridicule me or otherwise play any tomfoolery about my need for assistance.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
Rea allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings, improving to 4-0 with another no-flash performance that did the trick.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 May 2025
-
Label tricks, regional cues and color considerations for better picking at the wine shop.—
Rachel King,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
Certainly, an irreverent portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte is warranted, but at two and a half hours of alternating brutality and buffoonery, this movie really tries one’s patience.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2024
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His is a sort of erudite buffoonery that consistently tap-dances between clever, self-aware, and patently stupid.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The action anime feature for everyone who couldn’t get enough of the horseplay in The Two Towers has finally cantered onto Max.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
1 Mar. 2025
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Mike Vrabel’s back And the horseplay is going to stop, apparently.—
Josh Kendall,
The Athletic,
11 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigan. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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