as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
friends had left the risqué message on his voice mail as a practical joke
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Recent Examples of practical joke
At a lavish country house party, a practical joke appears to have gone horribly, murderously wrong.
—
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
With over 300 episodes to shoot, there was time for some practical jokes.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
This is all some practical joke that’s being played on me.
—Michael Nied, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Jordan had thought he’d been set up for a practical joke.
—Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for practical joke
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
With over 300 episodes to shoot, there was time for some practical jokes.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
This is all some practical joke that’s being played on me.
—Michael Nied, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Jordan had thought he’d been set up for a practical joke.
—Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for practical joke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practical joke
Noun
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Of course, the pranks are all in good fun, with owners keeping things safe and playful.—
Kendall Malinchock,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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And for 2026, the channel pulled off its creepiest prank yet, with a terrifying claymation short lifted from a one of their most popular shows.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Old dog learns new tricks UConn forward Alex Karaban, who played on the 2023 and ’24 champions, is attempting to become the first non-UCLA player to win three national championships.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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The brain bug's intrinsic ick factor is undeniably high, but using their proboscises to suck thoughts directly from the brains of their unfortunate victims is a pretty neat party trick.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The situation has fueled broader conversations about event marketing, consumer expectations and accountability when large-scale fan experiences do not match their promotional claims.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Additionally, the show features bundle deals and insider offers for discounts on dining and experiences.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The sparkling Sun in your 9th House of Exploration squares cheery Jupiter in your 12th House of Rest, pitting adventure against recovery.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
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This is an exciting year of new beginnings and adventures.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Practical joke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practical%20joke. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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