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
Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2024
The same physics also dictates thorium’s transition energies, making the isotope a handy gauge to detect and calibrate these miniscule shenanigans of our physical world.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Today’s political turbulence is a stark reminder that this nation has successfully endured the shenanigans of those occupying political office and those vying for that privilege.
—Jim Prochnow, The Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2024
WhistlePig has been up to plenty of whiskey shenanigans over the past year or two, and that’s just fine.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 20 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 2 Oct. 2024.
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