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 hijinks
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
Bluey lives with her mom, dad and sister Bingo, and the family is always up to fun, unpredictable shenanigans.
—
Greta Cross, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
How that ratio of truth to horse manure will manifest in the shenanigans of season two is anyone’s guess.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
With strong low-end torque, the larger engine makes off-road shenanigans and highway merges equally stress-free.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The child star, who had previously made TV appearances and had a supporting part in 1989's Uncle Buck, nabbed the starring role in the movie playing Kevin McCallister, a young boy who is accidentally left home alone by his family and faces the ensuing shenanigans of his solo time.
—EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The youngest boy Benny Walter (Lennix James) participated in these shenanigans, as did Jordan (Dean Petriw), who always has his video camera on him to capture documentary-worthy moments like that prank, which stemmed from a bet between Isaac and Cole.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2025
Sure, Outlander or Blood of My Blood could pull some twisty time-travel shenanigans and make this happen, but this universe isn’t exactly known for doling out neat and tidy happily ever afters.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
As a result of shenanigans in their dressing room, players Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe have both been transfer-listed.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The intergenerational sparring and mother-daughter friction that fueled the laughs in Freaky Friday are diluted in a script by Jordan Weiss (Hulu’s Dollface) that sticks to much of the earlier template but doubles the body-swap shenanigans.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Greta Cross, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
How that ratio of truth to horse manure will manifest in the shenanigans of season two is anyone’s guess.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
With strong low-end torque, the larger engine makes off-road shenanigans and highway merges equally stress-free.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The child star, who had previously made TV appearances and had a supporting part in 1989's Uncle Buck, nabbed the starring role in the movie playing Kevin McCallister, a young boy who is accidentally left home alone by his family and faces the ensuing shenanigans of his solo time.
—EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The youngest boy Benny Walter (Lennix James) participated in these shenanigans, as did Jordan (Dean Petriw), who always has his video camera on him to capture documentary-worthy moments like that prank, which stemmed from a bet between Isaac and Cole.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2025
Sure, Outlander or Blood of My Blood could pull some twisty time-travel shenanigans and make this happen, but this universe isn’t exactly known for doling out neat and tidy happily ever afters.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
As a result of shenanigans in their dressing room, players Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe have both been transfer-listed.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The intergenerational sparring and mother-daughter friction that fueled the laughs in Freaky Friday are diluted in a script by Jordan Weiss (Hulu’s Dollface) that sticks to much of the earlier template but doubles the body-swap shenanigans.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigans
Noun
-
One activist told a local news station that he was warned by Florida Highway Patrol troopers that he could be arrested and charged with criminal mischief if caught replacing the rainbow art again.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Spiker was arrested on charges including wanton endangerment and criminal mischief, WKBO reported.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Boy Meets World — Savage’s comedy legacy has been marred by multiple misconduct allegations over the years.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The senior pastor at the historic First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte in uptown was fired after allegations of misconduct proved true, the church said in an email Wednesday.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When Peanut pulled his second escape act, his owners knew where to look and handled Peanut's disappearance in a joking manner.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Multiple outlets that examined the reporting identified the claim as unverified and labeled the story a hoax; Colbert had previously made a joking on-air reference to streaming platforms but had not announced any deal with Netflix.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Be careful and look out for more of your mom's tomfoolery.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
For instance, in between Avi’s 2004 plane ride that starts the episode’s main arc and its last-second flash-forward to 2022, the premiere revels in the rapid wordplay of a gentile girlfriend meeting a vibrant Jewish family and the general tomfoolery of a jubilant bar mitzvah.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
He’s been tinkering with this messaging on and off since damn near the start of the century, when his criticism of the genre shifted from the power-holding executives (both white and Black) of the music industry who were profiting off buffoonery, a la Bamboozled, to rap music itself.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Stewart’s switch from his usual snark to imitate Colbert’s buffoonery proved how spiteful and irreligious political humor has become since the left’s worship of Barack Obama and subsequent persecution of President Trump.—
Armond White,
National Review,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
Finally, after plenty of clowning, Taylor Swift has revealed that her 12th album is on the way, titled The Life of a Showgirl.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigans. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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