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 joke
something said or done to cause laughter
Will Rogers' homespun waggeries struck a chord with audiences during the Great Depression
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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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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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Brendon pleaded guilty for criminal mischief.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
21 Mar. 2026
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Paul was arrested following the 2023 incident depicted in the video on misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child, according to police.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Later, O’Brien touted a fake company tasked with reformatting movies for smaller and smaller handheld devices, but the joke missed the mark.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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What the joke is, though, is harder to pin down.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Creator and host Eric André took the late-night talk show, a TV genre with all-too-familiar conventions, and twisted it beyond recognition with harrowing celebrity interviews, person-on-the-street stunts, jump-scare pranks, and gratuitous nudity.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Simple, creative pranks can surprise and delight your kids at home.—
Amanda Rock,
Parents,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Often, the design’s playfulness obscures the protagonist’s malaise.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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As an actor, Lena Maria approaches each role with curiosity, playfulness, and sincere commitment.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Scott used comedy to grease the narrative wheels; here, the laughs tend to gum up the works.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
New Yorker,
19 Mar. 2026
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The quick and confident response sparked a handful of laughs from those who have covered Lagrange’s emergence this spring.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If your complexion feels dry or irritated, any Illiyoon product or treatment will pretty much do the trick.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
21 Mar. 2026
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To help break down how to apply mascara correctly, Gray shares her best methods and tricks.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2026
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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Lindsay says that Jesse was serious about asking, but that the make-out would be a joking make-out.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
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The women’s team declined their joking invitation and had to explain comments directed at them.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waggery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggery. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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