practical joke

Mischief for laughs

A practical joke is a prank—a trick played on someone for amusement, typically involving physical setup rather than just words: They filled his office with balloons as a practical joke.

The target's confusion or surprise is the point.

Unlike verbal jokes, practical jokes require planning and often props.

The person who plays them is a practical joker.

prank

mischief

Playful troublesome behavior

  • gagMouth restraint or jest
  • japeMocking trick or quip
  • stuntDangerous feat for spectacle

trick · shenanigan · tomfoolery · jest · antics · high jinks · monkeyshines · lark · escapade · buffoonery

hoax

deception

Intentional misleading of others

  • ruseDeliberate act of deception
  • spoofComic exaggerated imitation
  • shamFraudulent imitation

trickery · charade · fabrication · fakery · dupery · con · imposture · fool · dupe · gullible

Categories
Opposites
sincerity of action

practical jokestraight talk

Honest, direct communication

intent toward target

practical jokeact of kindness

good deed · comfort · support · assistance

harm level

practical jokecriminal act

Illegal action, prosecutable

bullying · harassment

Family

joke, practice, joking, joker, practical, jokes, impractical, practicality, practicable

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G