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
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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
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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
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Recent Examples of shenanigan
In the clip, the adorable mammal can be seen dangling from the steering wheel while Laghi laughs and gives viewers an up-close look at the sloth's shenanigans.
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Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
But time has not dimmed the wattage of his recall for shenanigans having to do with pliant jury members and bags of francs.
—Steven Gaydos, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
That's because a combination of international political shenanigans, unrealistically lofty ambitions on financing, and economies digging their heels on fossil fuels came to the fore and created an atmosphere that ultimately proved very hard to recover from.
—Gaurav Sharma, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
This means making rugs that are machine washable and that can handle the wear and tear of kiddy shenanigans.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shenanigan 
Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
But time has not dimmed the wattage of his recall for shenanigans having to do with pliant jury members and bags of francs.
—Steven Gaydos, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
That's because a combination of international political shenanigans, unrealistically lofty ambitions on financing, and economies digging their heels on fossil fuels came to the fore and created an atmosphere that ultimately proved very hard to recover from.
—Gaurav Sharma, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
This means making rugs that are machine washable and that can handle the wear and tear of kiddy shenanigans.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shenanigan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigan
Noun
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In January he was busted in Union City, N.J. on a fugitive from justice charge; the same month he was arrested twice in Hoboken for criminal mischief, sources said.Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 18 Nov. 2024
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Foreign governments including hackers working at the behest of Russia, China or Iran may be involved, too, as well as those who simply delight at using social media to cause mischief and spread hoaxes.Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Sunday outsmarted Adam and Hannah with a ruse at Tribal Council.Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
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That was a ruse for Litton, who does not have a grandson, to get onto campus, Honea said.Phil Helsel, NBC News, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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About an equal number of men and women have come forward to accuse Combs of misconduct, with the accusations spanning over a 20-year period, the BBC reported, citing Buzbee.Charna Flam, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
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The Durham prosecutor who championed Mangum's case was disbarred for lying and misconduct.CBS News, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Ryan Harris, 36, of New Orleans, was among eight people and two law firms that have been charged in what federal prosecutors say was a yearslong scheme of crashing vehicles into tractor-trailers, fleeing while passengers in those vehicles pretended to be the drivers and lying about what happened.Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 14 Dec. 2024
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Pacifica came out on its first possession and used a no-huddle, up-tempo scheme to drive 72 yards for a 7-0 lead on Royster’s seven-yard touchdown run.Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This sweet 1978-82 CBS sitcom had plenty of workplace comedic tomfoolery, but none was more shocking and hilarious than the ending of this absurd Thanksgiving story.Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
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But hey, at least her particular brand of right-wing tomfoolery isn’t headed down under.Abby Monteil, Them, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
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As for the pineapple addition to the drink, eating the fruit is another common, nonmedical trick that people suggest for getting labor started (some people also swear by it when trying to conceive).Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2024
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The gods prove cruel but not omnipotent, and the modern settings exert their own redemptive pull; the final effect is that of a magic trick, in which the characters manage, in each film’s miraculous closing moments, to slip the bonds of tragedy.Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Famously, Tommy Lee Jones could not sanction Jim Carrey’s buffoonery on Batman Forever.Bethy Squires, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2024
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But conservatism ought not to be equated with populist buffoonery and mendacity.Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 Oct. 2024
Noun
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On my gondola, however, horseplay is not only encouraged, it is required.Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 24 Sep. 2024
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Prosecutors allege Alec Baldwin engaged in ‘horseplay’ and acted recklessly on ‘Rust’ set.Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigan. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
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