shenanigan

noun

shə-ˈna-ni-gən How to pronounce shenanigan (audio)
Definition of shenanigannext
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 joking
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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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 Once the first-half shenanigans subside and both teams settle in, the better one will emerge victorious at The Booth. — Pj Green september 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2026 But tighter scripting and less mayhem would have helped make his message heard, instead of diluting it with too many shenanigans. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2026 Clearly their support worked as the streamer confirmed Hardy’s da Souza is back for more shenanigans in Season 3. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 The shenanigans with Leonard and Uncle Dennis just cost them an additional five firsts. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigan
  1. mischief
  2. joking
  3. ruse
  4. misconduct
  5. tomfoolery
  6. scheme
  7. buffoonery
  8. trick
Noun
  • Maybe Canada doesn’t need another billion-dollar weapons system – just a few more hockey sticks and a good dose of patriotic mischief.
    — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The actors who work best are the ones who give themselves over to his sense of mischief and permissiveness.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of mischief
Noun
  • Russell was mentioned in that speech, but in a joking way, playing off of how frequent Oscars director Glenn Weiss, who won for his role helming the 2018 Academy Awards telecast, had used his speech to propose to his then-girlfriend.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of joking
Noun
  • What about when Carole was hiding in the closet to try to overhear Luann calling her a pedophile, and Jules Wainstein kept trying to ruin her ruse?
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Last-ditch plan for prosecution Authorities next developed what Smallwood described as a last-ditch plan to prosecute Tanzer — a ruse that could catch him lying about the rape.
    — Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruse
Noun
  • The reports come after misconduct findings against some interfraternity chapters in the spring and multiple criminal investigations, according to the letter.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
  • British police acknowledged applying for the warrants under the wrong statutory provision, the judge said while stipulating that the misconduct investigation against the king's brother could continue.
    — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of misconduct
Noun
  • 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
  • New assistant coach Alice Chilton is a blatant remodeling of Roy Kent — a brusque ex-soccer player who’s reluctant to engage with Ted’s tomfoolery or personal prodding — but Tanya Reynolds’ performance is equal turns wounded and witty.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of tomfoolery
Noun
  • Argentina’s citizen by investment scheme will offer numerous perks for travelers, including unlocking frictionless access to some of the most popular international destinations.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The administration’s language would establish a range of mandatory minimum sentences based on the amount of loss involved in fraud schemes, according to the document.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of scheme
Noun
  • The show creates space for other types of buffoonery as well.
    — Georgie McKeon, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Still, there's a remarkable level of buffoonery in his analysis.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of buffoonery
Noun
  • Kids can explore an inflatable corn maze, go trick-or-treating, face painting and more.
    — John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Beamer’s acumen in the game’s third phase comes from father, Hall of Famer Frank Beamer, whose Virginia Tech teams won games by blocking kicks and using trick plays.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of trick

Browse Nearby Words

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shenanigan
shenanigans
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Cite this Entry

“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigan. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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