1
as in mischief
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 tomfoolery
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
an act of vandalism that went way beyond the usual shenanigans at summer camp
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of shenanigans
From stars' historic achievements to their outrageous shenanigans – and everything in between – here are the things that brought joy to USA TODAY's entertainment staff in 2025, in no particular order.
—
Usa Today, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Hilarious cameos by everyone from Miley Cyrus to Tracy Morgan will keep you on your toes during the shenanigans in this 2015 comedy — think The Hangover meets Christmas.
—Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
So just to be critical or even open to suspicion of hanky-panky or shenanigans around vaccination is immediately shut down by The New York Times or anybody.
—David Zane Mairowitz, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025
The plots were full of shenanigans.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 22 Dec. 2025
SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends are still up to their light-hearted shenanigans, but the movie also doesn’t shy away from lessons on finding bravery and fortitude.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025
After trying out a shot in the fourth episode in which Kim smiled, barely perceptibly, while watching Jimmy pull off a stunt, the creators settled into the idea that her character wasn’t a scold but was turned on by Jimmy’s shenanigans — and could be a surprising and active ally.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Liza simply would not survive without her best friend and roommate Maggie, and Younger was a better show for having an honest outsider’s perspective on Liza’s shenanigans.
—Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Any Boston-versus-Philly shenanigans are liable to end in egged houses without the cover of Halloween night.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
Usa Today, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Hilarious cameos by everyone from Miley Cyrus to Tracy Morgan will keep you on your toes during the shenanigans in this 2015 comedy — think The Hangover meets Christmas.
—Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
So just to be critical or even open to suspicion of hanky-panky or shenanigans around vaccination is immediately shut down by The New York Times or anybody.
—David Zane Mairowitz, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025
The plots were full of shenanigans.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 22 Dec. 2025
SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends are still up to their light-hearted shenanigans, but the movie also doesn’t shy away from lessons on finding bravery and fortitude.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025
After trying out a shot in the fourth episode in which Kim smiled, barely perceptibly, while watching Jimmy pull off a stunt, the creators settled into the idea that her character wasn’t a scold but was turned on by Jimmy’s shenanigans — and could be a surprising and active ally.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Liza simply would not survive without her best friend and roommate Maggie, and Younger was a better show for having an honest outsider’s perspective on Liza’s shenanigans.
—Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Any Boston-versus-Philly shenanigans are liable to end in egged houses without the cover of Halloween night.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigans
Noun
-
Mauser is an ambitious and charismatic tennis-table player in the 1950s who gets into mischief in New York City and abroad in order to win a world ping-pong championship.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
With muddy swims in the water tower, passing trains as social hubs, and plenty of family mischief, the show celebrated simple living with a great sense of humor.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
11 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
-
Its investigative arm reviews officer misconduct complaints, and is expected to one day replace the police department’s internal affairs division.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The panel assessed the LAPD’s handling of discipline, misconduct complaints, excessive force by officers and other issues.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
9 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
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Our poll’s options include a joking reference to Dan Marino.—
Greg Cote
December 20,
Miami Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
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
Noun
-
The clowning isn’t over just yet, though.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Art, meanwhile, occupies a lonely table in the pizzeria and tries to put on his best clowning act for the two women.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There was reportedly no horseplay or swerving during the ride, according to 9News.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
22 Dec. 2025
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But what had once been raucous and raunchy mischief, was now benign horseplay.—
Time,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The actor shared rare photos of the teen with his younger siblings, getting it in at the gym, hiking, and roughhousing.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigans. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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