1
as in mischief
usually shenanigans plural
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
students engaging in youthful shenanigans on the last day of school
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hijinks
usually shenanigans plural
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
an act of vandalism that went way beyond the usual shenanigans at summer camp
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in ruse
a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end
the street-corner huckster of pirated DVDs had all sorts of shenanigans to keep the cops off of his tail
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shenanigan
The contrast makes an American happy: on the one side, tradition, serious public performance, luxury; on the other, émigré teachers, amateur musicales and family shenanigans, casual summers in the modest countryside.
—
David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
The constant recognition of so many people, places, and events contributes to a giddy sense of being there, in the board room where the next blockbuster happens, which bolsters the comic shenanigans captured with unwavering urgency.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Mar. 2025
Released from captivity in the opening scene, Willie goes on a murderous rampage over the rest of the film, dancing and snickering after each of his shenanigans.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
Maybe our statewide paper should cover in depth more of these shenanigans.
—arkansasonline.com, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
The constant recognition of so many people, places, and events contributes to a giddy sense of being there, in the board room where the next blockbuster happens, which bolsters the comic shenanigans captured with unwavering urgency.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Mar. 2025
Released from captivity in the opening scene, Willie goes on a murderous rampage over the rest of the film, dancing and snickering after each of his shenanigans.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
Maybe our statewide paper should cover in depth more of these shenanigans.
—arkansasonline.com, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigan
Noun
-
She’s been charged with home invasion burglary, two counts of assault, two counts of criminal mischief, terroristic threats and resisting arrest.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Hartley was charged with four felony counts of criminal mischief, one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of aggravated battery.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Richie buys Harry's ruse regarding Tommy's murder, but there's a catch.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
20 Apr. 2025
-
The wedding started as an elaborate three-way ruse concocted by Wai-Tung, a gay Taiwanese American man; his white boyfriend, Simon (Mitchell Lichtenstein); and Wei-Wei, an undocumented Chinese immigrant.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Court records show he was then indicted in June 2020 for misconduct in office.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Nor is either party actually addressing the ballooning financial cost of local police forces in the U.S., nor the long-term reputational costs from police misconduct for trust in the police and government more broadly.—
Christopher S. Warshaw,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Nearly 30 years ago California legislators faced a test of their integrity in voting for an electricity deregulation scheme that ratepayers are still paying for.—
Jamie Court,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
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Minnesota Vikings Needs: RB, D-line, CB, S Ole Miss CB Trey Amos: Amos has good instincts around the ball and the press coverage skills needed to fit Brian Flores’ defensive scheme, which places cornerbacks on an island most of the time. 25.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Another aspect to note is that the AI didn’t ridicule me or otherwise play any tomfoolery about my need for assistance.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Another aspect to note is that the AI didn’t ridicule me or otherwise play any tomfoolery about my worries.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The company, which sells hot and iced coffee, tea, shakes, as well as burritos and tacos, also hosts classes to teach dogs tricks.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Another simple trick to avoid seeming evasive: Answer questions with yes or no, first; get into the explanation afterwards.—
Rob Davis,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His is a sort of erudite buffoonery that consistently tap-dances between clever, self-aware, and patently stupid.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
-
There is, in fact, real stagecraft along with the buffoonery.—
Susan B. Glasser,
The New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The action anime feature for everyone who couldn’t get enough of the horseplay in The Two Towers has finally cantered onto Max.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
1 Mar. 2025
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Mike Vrabel’s back And the horseplay is going to stop, apparently.—
Josh Kendall,
The Athletic,
11 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigan. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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