1
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
tossing lighted firecrackers around is not the kind of harmless waggery that it might seem
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in laugh
something said or done to cause laughter
Will Rogers' homespun waggeries struck a chord with audiences during the Great Depression
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
her innocent little waggeries usually involved whoopee cushions or fake snakes in cans
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waggery
To ask you to step into the parlor was Maggie’s favorite waggery, the divisions of her cabin being purely imaginary.
—
Gertrude A. Zerr, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
Gertrude A. Zerr, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waggery
Noun
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The punishment verdict comes one day after jurors found Raunaq Alam guilty of criminal mischief but not a hate crime for spray-painting anti-Israel graffiti on a wall at the Uncommon Church in Euless.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives largely focused on Paul's relationships and role as a mother, and also documented her troubles with the law in February 2023, when she was arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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What captured millions of TikTok users' hearts was the pure joy that can be heard in her son’s laughs as her husband shields him from the rain.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
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The ratio of laughs to drama changes quite sharply, however, as Joan takes her hostages off on their journey, leading to a bond with Tyler and a lot of unexpected revelations about Joan’s background.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Brown was charged with misdemeanor misusing 911 — a charge one expert said is typically brought against prank callers, not those in a mental crisis.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Sep. 2025
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Still, Shannon promised, no pranks this time, because the movie at hand is too important.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is why researchers agree that intentional playfulness should be a priority.—
Mark Travers,
CNBC,
7 Sep. 2025
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But with all that being said, New Village Arts’ production is a likable, amusing and earnest staging with four ebullient actors directed with playfulness and energy by Desireé Clarke Miller.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Though the movie is accessible to new fans, there are plenty of winks and nods for diehards who can understand what might seem, to the uninitiated, like cheesy moments—a cringeworthy English rap verse, a scene parodying the product placement in K-dramas—as self-aware jokes.—
Yvonne Kim,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
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That means having to cut jokes that don't fit his do-no-harm MO.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
So the real trick was creating a hue with blendability that people were willing to reapply.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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The Luray Caverns feel almost magical—complete with musical instruments built into the walls, mirror-like lakes that play tricks on your eyes, and even a wishing well tucked into the underground pathways.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mustard and vinegar provide the devilment for a flavorful bite, particularly when topped with a scattering of scallions and paprika.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
5 Feb. 2025
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But even if truffles are beyond your pay grade, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had in the sheer devilment portrayed in this informative and appetizing book.—
Eugenia Bone,
WSJ,
10 July 2019
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
Cite this Entry
“Waggery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggery. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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