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
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Recent Examples of shenanigan
SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends are still up to their light-hearted shenanigans, but the movie also doesn’t shy away from lessons on finding bravery and fortitude.
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Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025
After trying out a shot in the fourth episode in which Kim smiled, barely perceptibly, while watching Jimmy pull off a stunt, the creators settled into the idea that her character wasn’t a scold but was turned on by Jimmy’s shenanigans — and could be a surprising and active ally.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
There's no need to break in or get up to any shenanigans in order to watch your favorite holiday movies.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 9 Dec. 2025
In fact, the shenanigans in Kiffin’s bromance with LSU only accentuate the historic hypocrisy of the sport, where coaches are forgiven – indeed, often lauded – for seeking greener pastures but players are criticized (and in the past were punished) for getting theirs.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shenanigan
Noun
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In this case, the cow’s curiosity (rather than any intent to cause mischief) created a memorable moment for both police and residents alike.—
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In April 2018, Johnson was arrested for criminal mischief.—
Noun
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Cole follows up with a joking request to appear on an interlude on the forthcoming project, then asks whether West could send him a care package of clothes — which West agrees to — before exiting the stage.—
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Our poll’s options include a joking reference to Dan Marino.—
Noun
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The New York Colored American reported that some offers of short-term work for Black men — moving livestock to or from Kentucky, for example — were ruses that ended with kidnappings.—
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Odysseus, the Ithacan warrior who is as celebrated for craftiness as Achilles is for brute strength, devises a clever ruse in which the Greeks place a giant wooden horse outside Troy’s walls and pretend to sail away.—
Noun
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Its investigative arm reviews officer misconduct complaints, and is expected to one day replace the police department’s internal affairs division.—
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The panel assessed the LAPD’s handling of discipline, misconduct complaints, excessive force by officers and other issues.—
Noun
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But enough of all that tomfoolery, because there is one person on the beach who knows exactly what is about to happen!—
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This prevalence, however, has led to widespread quality-control tomfoolery.—
Noun
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Sammis runs a pro-style scheme that prioritizes a strong run game and being efficient with the passing attack.—
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Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff, pleaded not guilty in November in a scheme to enrich her friend Sean McCluskie, a longtime deputy to former Attorney General Xavier Becerra, using money funneled from one of Becerra’s dormant campaign accounts.—
Noun
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This dish will do the trick with crispy chicken and fresh zucchini tossed in a tender linguine with a robust lemon flavor.—
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But even an invitation to hang out again, perhaps paired with a gift card to a local lunch spot, could do the trick.—
Noun
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Death by Lightning, adapted by Mike Makowsky from Candice Millard’s 2011 nonfiction book and directed by Matt Ross, hums with the strength of these performances, particularly Shannon’s quiet composure and Macfadyen mining new depths of buffoonery.—
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Scholz-Carlson’s staging pushes against the deep misogyny of Da Ponte’s libretto by accentuating the buffoonery of the two male romantic leads.—
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shenanigan. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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