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
Relevance
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
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 shenanigan
Viewers even got a sneak peek of the shenanigans Snooki and JWoww 2.0.
—
Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
Judge Doom Perhaps the most accurate, as destroying public transportation in Los Angeles is exactly the kind of shenanigans this admin is planning on getting up to.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
The comedy is in the schemes Dreux and Alyssa pull to make quick money, and Syreeta Singleton’s script invents plenty of memorable shenanigans.
—Fred Topel, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025
Around him, dense as a swarm of tiny insects, float tiny images of fellow adepts engaged in all manner of outré shenanigans.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
Judge Doom Perhaps the most accurate, as destroying public transportation in Los Angeles is exactly the kind of shenanigans this admin is planning on getting up to.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
The comedy is in the schemes Dreux and Alyssa pull to make quick money, and Syreeta Singleton’s script invents plenty of memorable shenanigans.
—Fred Topel, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025
Around him, dense as a swarm of tiny insects, float tiny images of fellow adepts engaged in all manner of outré shenanigans.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigan
Noun
-
Jabbari was arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault and criminal mischief, but the Manhattan District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute the case against Jabbari, citing a lack of prosecutorial merit.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
12 Feb. 2025
-
The juvenile in Canada was charged with indecent communications, uttering threats, public mischief and mischief over $5,000.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Is this to maintain the ruse of amateurism to go along with the players’ professed allegiance to and love of this particular university, however temporary?—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Through a clever ruse, the trio manages to escape, but Léo is shot and starts going into labor.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Peltier has maintained his innocence and his case has been plagued with allegations of trial misconduct, conflicting testimonies, withheld evidence and potential bias among jurors.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
-
According to a police spokesman, the settlements stem from wrongful convictions dating back over two decades, with many of these cases involving not just snafus on law enforcement’s part, but also instances of prosecutorial misconduct.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
When Tony White left after the regular season for Florida State, Nebraska lost a defensive tactician and a coordinator who brought an effective scheme to the Blackshirts.—
Mitch Sherman,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
-
What’s needed now are more flexible funding schemes and opportunities that will allow Latvian productions to be competitive on the global market.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The tomfoolery that's going on in D.C., that's just regular everyday business to Black folks.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Another aspect to note is that the AI didn’t ridicule me or otherwise play any tomfoolery about my commentary.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
And our favorite trick is shopping the Better Homes & Gardens Juliet bedroom furniture line at Walmart.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Feb. 2025
-
The trick is finding the place that aligns with your style.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
There are no gilded gates here, but there is one heck of a party, complete with serenading busts, ballroom dancers, excitable opera singers, drunken buffoonery and portraits locked in an endless duel.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2025
-
What’s so special about Britain’s patron wanker of bighearted buffoonery?—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Key speeches are faithfully delivered to an audience of two, not thousands; a scene of soldiers destructively revelling on a bridge is given a different spirit by ironic, out-of-time horseplay.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
8 Feb. 2025
-
And yes, there were cases on public roads where the horseplay turned dangerous.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigan. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share