as in hijinks
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
the open bar may have had something to do with the tomfoolery at the wedding reception
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Recent Examples of tomfoolery
Sadly, the Academy has released no rules preventing the tomfoolery that led to two leading actors winning the Supporting categories this year.
—
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Growing up, the de Kooning home became an unofficial meeting ground for creative tomfoolery: Lisa de Kooning was a firm believer in play.
—Alessandra Schade, Vogue, 7 June 2025
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, 17 May 2025
Would that all life could be filled with such tomfoolery.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tomfoolery
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Growing up, the de Kooning home became an unofficial meeting ground for creative tomfoolery: Lisa de Kooning was a firm believer in play.
—Alessandra Schade, Vogue, 7 June 2025
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, 17 May 2025
Would that all life could be filled with such tomfoolery.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tomfoolery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tomfoolery
Noun
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Stewart’s switch from his usual snark to imitate Colbert’s buffoonery proved how spiteful and irreligious political humor has become since the left’s worship of Barack Obama and subsequent persecution of President Trump.—
Armond White,
National Review,
25 July 2025
-
The other person who spoke in South Carolina, Tim Walz, is a special mixture of extreme buffoonery and a mean spirit, which is a toxic brew.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
1 June 2025
Noun
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Butch Baker, who was Henry County sheriff until 2014, recalled an incident in which Bertram was accused of inappropriate horseplay at the community corrections office.—
Tony Cook,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
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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
Noun
-
Eric Andre, Tyler the Creator and Machine Gun Kelly all drop by to participate in the Jack-foolery.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
2 Feb. 2022
-
The whole of humanity doesn’t fit tidily into three acts, even assuming as much frame-breaking foolery as Wilder allows.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Tomfoolery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tomfoolery. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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