as in hijinks
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
the open bar may have had something to do with the tomfoolery at the wedding reception
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Recent Examples of tomfoolery
The 49ers might have messed around all training camp and preseason, but there was no tomfoolery on display Monday night, as the Niners punched the Jets in the mouth early and refused to relent for a single moment.
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Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2024
Of course, the Scientologists were none too pleased with his tomfoolery.
—Diego Ramos Bechara, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024
Was there any specific reason behind the Cleveland tomfoolery, these 6-foot high letters that have given more than a few air travelers an uneasy, eerie (or Erie) feeling?
—Journal Sentinel, 23 May 2024
Its closest relative is Halloween, another holiday rooted in tomfoolery and chaos that unites and divides us in equal measure.
—Marianne Eloise, Vulture, 15 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tomfoolery 
Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2024
Of course, the Scientologists were none too pleased with his tomfoolery.
—Diego Ramos Bechara, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024
Was there any specific reason behind the Cleveland tomfoolery, these 6-foot high letters that have given more than a few air travelers an uneasy, eerie (or Erie) feeling?
—Journal Sentinel, 23 May 2024
Its closest relative is Halloween, another holiday rooted in tomfoolery and chaos that unites and divides us in equal measure.
—Marianne Eloise, Vulture, 15 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tomfoolery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tomfoolery
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
Noun
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Eric Andre, Tyler the Creator and Machine Gun Kelly all drop by to participate in the Jack-foolery.David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2022
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The whole of humanity doesn’t fit tidily into three acts, even assuming as much frame-breaking foolery as Wilder allows.New York Times, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2022
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Cite this Entry
“Tomfoolery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tomfoolery. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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