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 The wildly popular Instagram page was offline for a hot minute, leaving the general pop pining for videos on the myriad zany happenings in our city, from traffic snarls and celebrity shenanigans to animal encounters and fights outside the club. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026 With Logout’s punk credentials and Margo XS’s keen ear for self-referential, post-hyperpop production, HARDBODY’s hero’s journey is sarcastically relatable, like getting roasted in the group chat for last night’s shenanigans. — Cameron Cook, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026 Eight years of multiverse shenanigans and momentum-killing Disney Plus shows have reduced the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the most reliable money-printing machine in film history to a sadly confused shadow of its former self. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 July 2026 Director Jake Kasdan also returns new shenanigans and adventures as the videogame characters navigate the real world. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 28 July 2026 Expect joint shenanigans from Hiedeman and Williams once their obligations are through on Friday night. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 24 July 2026 This is a genuine Band concert without any post-production shenanigans. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 20 July 2026 From making Lonnie’s epic comeback to getting caught up in hilarious shenanigans, Sam and Lonnie’s friendship is filled with ridiculous moments. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026 The shenanigans are interrupted by news that the French have retaken Fort Douaumont, marking the end of the carnage at Verdun. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigans
  1. mischief
  2. tomfoolery
  3. misconduct
  4. joking
  5. buffoonery
  6. clowning
  7. horseplay
  8. roughhousing
Noun
  • The feeling is cheeky and curious, a soundtrack to innocuous mischief.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
  • Another charge of mischief was taken into consideration during sentencing.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Definition of mischief
Noun
  • Between their champagne problems and flirty tomfoolery, Anna disappears, initiating a futile rescue search.
    — Maggie Turner, Air Mail, 25 July 2026
  • This is the first sign of the kind of tomfoolery Luke has in store for the night.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Definition of tomfoolery
Noun
  • And third, judges can remove that person for serious misconduct.
    — Reid Kress Weisbord, Fortune, 31 July 2026
  • For more than a year, California school administrators have lobbied lawmakers for a better way to protect students from those with a history of misconduct.
    — Holly McDede, ProPublica, 31 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

Browse Nearby Words

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 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shenanigans

Nglish: Translation of shenanigans for Spanish Speakers

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