prank

noun

ˈpraŋk How to pronounce prank (audio)
Definition of pranknext
as in trick
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke as a prank, several students managed to change all the classroom clocks to different times

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 prank After the film’s theatrical release on June 26, the decades-long saga of pranks and tomfoolery is finally coming to an end. — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026 In it, Simpson pulled pranks on strangers dressed as a Ford Bronco salesman, a durag-wearing rapper, a pizza delivery man, an Elvis Presley impersonator and an elderly, white man. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 The prank came amid rumors about Stern’s impending retirement and the cancellation of his show. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 While many of the posts may be intended as a prank or hoax, officials say the trend has become more concerning as some posts have named specific schools, communities, or students and included threatening language. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prank
  1. trick
  2. joking
  3. adventure
  4. escapade
  5. experience
  6. gag
  7. caper
Noun
  • How modular workstation sinks work A workstation sink looks like a standard basin at first glance, but the walls hide the trick.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026
  • With each trick and tactic, companies are reinventing the ripoff right under our noses.
    — Lindsay Owens, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of trick
Noun
  • Arch Manning's joking comments at a news conference about a fake video of coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted in controversy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Indeed, at lunch, instead of separating into groups to eat, all 16 participants form one mega table and spend the half-hour joking and laughing together.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of joking
Noun
  • Through quests, combat, exploration and cooperative adventures, players can forge their own paths through the medieval fantasy world of Gielinor.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • From that came the adventure series Adderly, starring Winston Rekert.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of adventure
Noun
  • Check out even more Amazon travel finds to shop ahead of your fall escapades.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Now roughly two weeks later, Netflix has made a whole documentary about the escapade.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of escapade
Noun
  • But our latest research shows how these tombs – built for Etruscans of higher socioeconomic and political status—were designed to offer sophisticated sensory experiences.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The service is intended to provide a more streamlined travel experience, including access to private terminals rather than crowded commercial airport facilities.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of experience
Noun
  • However, Gonzo never was classified as a specific animal, and the joke turned into a running gag.
    — Niranjana Rajalakshmi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Although fewer than half of the productions analyzed were comedies, 80% used narcolepsy as a running gag.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of gag
Noun
  • Third place was Japanese director Sabu’s Arrested Memory, a crime caper about a detective with dementia who unwittingly wanders off with a multimillion-dollar ransom, sending cops and criminals on his trail.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
  • To serve it as part of a larger menu, consider following it up with salmon—try Martha’s pan-seared salmon fillets with caper-lemon compound butter.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of caper

Browse Nearby Words

prancing
prank
prankish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prank. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All