shenanigan
noun
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The history of shenanigan is as tricky and mischievous as its meaning. Etymologists have some theories about its origins, but no one has been able to prove them. All we can say for certain is that the earliest known uses of the word in print appeared in the mid-1800s. Although the "underhanded trick" sense of the word is oldest, the most common senses in use now are "tricky or questionable practices" (as in "political shenanigans") and "high-spirited behavior" (as in "youthful shenanigans").
Synonyms
Examples of shenanigan in a Sentence
Jim Halterman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024
The 57-page indictment is riddled with mobile phone shenanigans.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024
Season 16 After committing insurance fraud, Meredith, Alex, and Richard are fired, setting up a season in which fan favorite doctors are not really involved in hospital shenanigans for a few episodes.
—Annabel Gutterman, TIME, 26 Sep. 2024
Polaris / Align Media / New Atlas Out in the dunes, the Pro S requires a little more finesse to keep up with the Pro R’s shenanigans.
—New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shenanigan 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shenanigan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shenanigan. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
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