shenanigans

noun

plural of shenanigan
1
as in mischief
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 tomfoolery
wildly playful or mischievous behavior an act of vandalism that went way beyond the usual shenanigans at summer camp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shenanigans On to his scheme, the sheriff ensures the two men don’t get anywhere near each other overnight and in the morning, Hal is arraigned by a judge who has little time for his shenanigans. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 For example, the ‘bottle’ shenanigans that started during their Premier League match at the Etihad in April. — Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026 The original cast of the sitcom, which came to focus more and more on Urkel’s shenanigans in its later years, reunited for Entertainment Weekly in September 2017. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026 The irony here is that Singer is returning to his profession while so many ensnared in his application shenanigans never fully got back to theirs. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026 The wildly popular Instagram page was offline for a hot minute, leaving the general pop pining for videos on the myriad zany happenings in our city, from traffic snarls and celebrity shenanigans to animal encounters and fights outside the club. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026 With Logout’s punk credentials and Margo XS’s keen ear for self-referential, post-hyperpop production, HARDBODY’s hero’s journey is sarcastically relatable, like getting roasted in the group chat for last night’s shenanigans. — Cameron Cook, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026 Eight years of multiverse shenanigans and momentum-killing Disney Plus shows have reduced the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the most reliable money-printing machine in film history to a sadly confused shadow of its former self. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 July 2026 Director Jake Kasdan also returns new shenanigans and adventures as the videogame characters navigate the real world. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 28 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigans
  1. mischief
  2. tomfoolery
  3. misconduct
  4. joking
  5. buffoonery
  6. clowning
  7. horseplay
  8. roughhousing
Noun
  • View this post on Instagram Vargas was taken to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center), and charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure and criminal mischief.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Larry Montes faces two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, among other charges, New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said late Friday.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of mischief
Noun
  • New assistant coach Alice Chilton is a blatant remodeling of Roy Kent — a brusque ex-soccer player who’s reluctant to engage with Ted’s tomfoolery or personal prodding — but Tanya Reynolds’ performance is equal turns wounded and witty.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Between their champagne problems and flirty tomfoolery, Anna disappears, initiating a futile rescue search.
    — Maggie Turner, Air Mail, 25 July 2026
Definition of tomfoolery
Noun
  • The museum’s managing director, Véronique Haché, is also named in the report for related, alleged misconduct.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Hernandez faces two federal counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of misconduct
Noun
  • Back in December 1968, Dolan wrote a joking column about the earlier Lake Worth monster, from way back in 1947.
    — Star-Telegram staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
  • Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2026
Definition of joking
Noun
  • Still, there's a remarkable level of buffoonery in his analysis.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The show, with its interest in corporate buffoonery, doesn’t quite manage to hand-wave away the queasy implications.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of buffoonery
Noun
  • The clowning might be a little too effortful.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • As the race unfolds in real time, there’s clowning, collisions, sabotage, surprises, comedy, chaos and more.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of clowning
Noun
  • The device’s user manual also warns it should not be used in response to verbal defiance, or for punishment, torture or horseplay.
    — Ryan J. Foley, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The device's user manual also warns it should not be used in response to verbal defiance, or for punishment, torture or horseplay.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of horseplay
Noun
  • As expected, Aussies brought the roughhousing.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 20 June 2026
  • The boys challenge each other to throw heavy objects, which leads to intense roughhousing.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Definition of roughhousing

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shenanigan
shenanigans
Sheol
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Cite this Entry

“Shenanigans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigans. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of shenanigans for Spanish Speakers

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