tomfoolery

noun

ˌtäm-ˈfül-rē How to pronounce tomfoolery (audio)
Definition of tomfoolerynext
as in joking
wildly playful or mischievous behavior the open bar may have had something to do with the tomfoolery at the wedding reception

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 tomfoolery The latest tomfoolery consisted of a posting on Twitter/X last week that provided a picture of a genuine Monet painting, and the picture was labeled as supposedly being AI-generated. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 Warm temperatures should keep the snow from causing too much traffic tomfoolery on Tuesday, but by the evening, roads are likely to turn slick, Danielson said. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 May 2026 The Jazz are 15-35, which puts them at the sixth pick if zero lottery-ball tomfoolery happens. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for tomfoolery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tomfoolery
  1. joking
  2. buffoonery
  3. clowning
  4. horseplay
  5. foolery
  6. clownery
  7. roughhousing
  8. slapstick
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
  • Still, there's a remarkable level of buffoonery in his analysis.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 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
  • The device’s user manual also warns it should not be used in response to verbal defiance, or for punishment, torture or horseplay.
    — Ryan J. Foley, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The device's user manual also warns it should not be used in response to verbal defiance, or for punishment, torture or horseplay.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of horseplay
Noun
  • Jeffrey Jones played Principal Ed Rooney, Ferris' nemesis, who is dead set on catching Bueller in his foolery, but ultimately fails at his mission.
    — Emma Urdangen, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
  • One way to stop this proliferation of deep-fake nudity is to prosecute the offenders and make examples that such foolery has consequences.
    — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of foolery
Noun
  • Allow Yahya Abdul-Mateen II to clarify his remarks about Aquaman being the work of clowns with… some clownery.
    — Jessica Wang, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2022
  • Chronicle Books In the world of clownery, tradition has long dictated that a clown must never steal another clown’s look.
    — Constance Grady, Vox, 20 Aug. 2018
Definition of clownery
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
Noun
  • The film cannily tugs on the heartstrings, pulls off classic slapstick comedy and sneaks obscure film references into its visuals.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Even simple equipment failed with slapstick regularity, six workers said.
    — Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of slapstick

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tomfoolery
tommy gun
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Cite this Entry

“Tomfoolery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tomfoolery. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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