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
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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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Texas will deter criminal mischief and work with local law enforcement to arrest anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property.—
NPR,
NPR,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Best known for her breakout role as Devi in Netflix’s Never Have I Ever, Ramakrishnan steps into a new kind of chaos here — one filled with magical animals and over-the-top mischief.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Newlyweds Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco made their first appearance as a married couple at the event — sneaking off right after taking their carpet photos — while Demi Moore and Lucy Liu shared some laughs on the photo line, and Scorsese and Ben Stiller each brought their daughters as dates.—
Kirsten Chuba,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Oct. 2025
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Its interconnected tales, which evoke campfire stories and urban legends, wring morbid laughs and genuine scares in much the same fashion as Tales From the Crypt.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Alexandria Police Chief Tarrik McGuire noted to the outlet that this is a real risk that comes with pranks or criminal behavior like this.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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Operating at the extreme fringes is also an effective strategy for maximizing exposure in the algorithm, which explains why popular influencers such as the Nelk Boys and Jake Paul started their YouTube careers as prank peddlers, before leaning into more overtly political content.—
T. M. Brown,
New Yorker,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Featuring sensual stylings and formfitting silhouettes, Perry’s designs cater to a feminine sensibility with a mix of sensuality and contemporary playfulness.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
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These acts of radical playfulness—the inflatable dance parties, the music, the absurdity—have become part of the city’s moral vocabulary.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There’s a joke in here somewhere.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
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Some Sora users depicted King making crude jokes and other inappropriate content.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating are also on this month's calendar for the shelter's young residents, who range from under a year old to 18.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
21 Oct. 2025
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The trick was just finding that next pile of exorbitant wealth and luring it in with our siren song of cultural relevance and creative ambition.—
John Lopez,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Oct. 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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Jones eventually got into his joking bag, and Bleek took that opportunity to seriously set the record straight one last time.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
15 Oct. 2025
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And their joking comments about their relationship never help the matter.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waggery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggery. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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