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 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
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
If even his bros are sick of his shenanigans in 2009, why is he being allowed to give a toast at the rehearsal dinner in 2015?
—
Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 Jan. 2026
That original inclusion of a metal bell at the Lafayette restaurant led to some classic small-town shenanigans.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
This sexy rivals-to-lovers whodunnit is bursting with sleuthing shenanigans and all your favorite tropes.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Swashbuckling shenanigans from the high seas are on the way to the 2026 South Florida Fair.
—Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 Jan. 2026
That original inclusion of a metal bell at the Lafayette restaurant led to some classic small-town shenanigans.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
This sexy rivals-to-lovers whodunnit is bursting with sleuthing shenanigans and all your favorite tropes.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Swashbuckling shenanigans from the high seas are on the way to the 2026 South Florida Fair.
—Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigan
Noun
-
Wilde is at her best when Erika is imperiously giving orders or expounding — in seriousness or mischief?—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Moss has a lengthy criminal record with convictions, including battery resulting in serious bodily injury, criminal recklessness while armed with a deadly weapon, criminal mischief and criminal trespass, police said in earlier court documents.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cole follows up with a joking request to appear on an interlude on the forthcoming project, then asks whether West could send him a care package of clothes — which West agrees to — before exiting the stage.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
28 Dec. 2025
-
Our poll’s options include a joking reference to Dan Marino.—
Greg Cote
December 20,
Miami Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Seth Rollins has been out with a legitimate injury, but after his ruse to win at SummerSlam, anything is possible with him.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Federal agents are currently roaming cities under the ruse of going after murderers and rapists but are instead pulling anyone who doesn't fit their idea of what an American looks like out of cars, homes and schools using thuggish methods.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Blind spots, poor image quality, and limited video retention undermine investigations and allow misconduct to go undetected or unprosecuted.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Progressives also have endorsed the reversal of qualified immunity protections, which shield agents from misconduct lawsuits.—
Ana Ceballos,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But enough of all that tomfoolery, because there is one person on the beach who knows exactly what is about to happen!—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
-
This prevalence, however, has led to widespread quality-control tomfoolery.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Monica Cannon-Grant, 44, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to 18 of 27 counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud and failing to file tax returns related to a scheme in which Cannon-Grant and her late husband, Clark Grant, pocketed thousands of dollars in donations to their nonprofit.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The lawsuit alleges that pharmacy benefit managers and insulin manufacturers created and participated in a pricing scheme that led to an increase in the price of insulin and increased profits.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So much grunt routes through a trick all-wheel-drive system that actually uses a two-speed gearbox ahead of the engine between the front wheels, in addition to a more traditional eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle routing power to the rears.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Our mother figures and friends can serve as the best sources of inspiration for beauty tips and tricks, thanks to many years of trial and error.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Death by Lightning, adapted by Mike Makowsky from Candice Millard’s 2011 nonfiction book and directed by Matt Ross, hums with the strength of these performances, particularly Shannon’s quiet composure and Macfadyen mining new depths of buffoonery.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
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Scholz-Carlson’s staging pushes against the deep misogyny of Da Ponte’s libretto by accentuating the buffoonery of the two male romantic leads.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigan. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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