as in hijinks
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
the open bar may have had something to do with the tomfoolery at the wedding reception
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tomfoolery
Judge Judy, has served up swift justice with a sharp tongue and zero patience for tomfoolery.
—
Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 21 July 2025
Idris Elba is the British prime minister (and ex-soldier) who has no time for his tomfoolery.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Some have parents who forbid that brand of tomfoolery.
—Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
Growing up, the de Kooning home became an unofficial meeting ground for creative tomfoolery: Lisa de Kooning was a firm believer in play.
—Alessandra Schade, Vogue, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tomfoolery
Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 21 July 2025
Idris Elba is the British prime minister (and ex-soldier) who has no time for his tomfoolery.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Some have parents who forbid that brand of tomfoolery.
—Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
Growing up, the de Kooning home became an unofficial meeting ground for creative tomfoolery: Lisa de Kooning was a firm believer in play.
—Alessandra Schade, Vogue, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tomfoolery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tomfoolery
Noun
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Noun
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Butch Baker, who was Henry County sheriff until 2014, recalled an incident in which Bertram was accused of inappropriate horseplay at the community corrections office.—
Tony Cook,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
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The action anime feature for everyone who couldn’t get enough of the horseplay in The Two Towers has finally cantered onto Max.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The whole of humanity doesn’t fit tidily into three acts, even assuming as much frame-breaking foolery as Wilder allows.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2022
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Political pranking is traditionally thought of as benign foolery targeting the powerful.—
Stanislav Budnitsky,
The Conversation,
19 Apr. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Tomfoolery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tomfoolery. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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