shenanigans

noun

plural of shenanigan
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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shenanigans Last week, after some offer sheet shenanigans by the Philadelphia Flyers forced their hand, the Anaheim Ducks signed center Leo Carlsson to a five-year contract that will pay him $18 million per season, guaranteed, through 2031. — Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 12 July 2026 Check back for morning-after recaps of weekday episodes and a Monday roundup of the weekend’s shenanigans. — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 July 2026 To many onlookers, Neil’s shenanigans appear adorably quirky. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 8 July 2026 Such shenanigans are more or less expected, and certainly haven’t forever sullied the American soccer fan base, at least here at home. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 July 2026 Advertisement Two years after the body-swapping shenanigans, most of our characters are happy. — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 July 2026 Though the film ends with Lori and John getting married (despite Ted's various illicit shenanigans), Ted 2 reveals that the pair have divorced. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026 Zayn didn’t need any shenanigans or distractions from the outside. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2026 Now, both in their 20s, their childhood shenanigans have turned into conversations about college classes, work and a deep love and respect for one another. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigans
  1. mischief
  2. tomfoolery
  3. misconduct
  4. joking
  5. buffoonery
  6. clowning
  7. horseplay
  8. roughhousing
Noun
  • Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, was widely expected to plead guilty to charges of mischief and public nuisance.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
  • The play is known for its razor-sharp wit, mistaken identities and romantic mischief.
    — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 12 July 2026
Definition of mischief
Noun
  • This is the first sign of the kind of tomfoolery Luke has in store for the night.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 July 2026
  • The project has been plagued by technical issues, supplier disputes, and alleged tomfoolery—empty mini tequila bottles were reportedly discovered on one of the airplanes under construction.
    — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Definition of tomfoolery
Noun
  • And when misconduct does happen — rarely — security protocols frequently catch it.
    — Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
  • Hanaway’s office filed a petition to remove Johnston from office, alleging misconduct, according to a news release from the attorney general’s office.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Definition of misconduct
Noun
  • Back in December 1968, Dolan wrote a joking column about the earlier Lake Worth monster, from way back in 1947.
    — Star-Telegram staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
  • Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2026
Definition of joking
Noun
  • Without Roberts in charge, expect the political and racial buffoonery to creep back into the conversation at ESPN.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The show, with its interest in corporate buffoonery, doesn’t quite manage to hand-wave away the queasy implications.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of buffoonery
Noun
  • The clowning might be a little too effortful.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • As the race unfolds in real time, there’s clowning, collisions, sabotage, surprises, comedy, chaos and more.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of clowning
Noun
  • When horseplay turns into an impromptu hookup, neither of the young men fight the urge.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026
  • After France’s 4-3 victory against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, horseplay between the players at the team hotel culminated in back-up centre-back Adil Rami setting off a fire extinguisher in the early hours of the morning.
    — Tom Williams, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Definition of horseplay
Noun
  • As expected, Aussies brought the roughhousing.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 20 June 2026
  • The boys challenge each other to throw heavy objects, which leads to intense roughhousing.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Definition of roughhousing

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shenanigan
shenanigans
Sheol
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Cite this Entry

“Shenanigans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigans. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of shenanigans for Spanish Speakers

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