prank
Harmless playful deception
A prank is a playful trick designed to surprise, embarrass, or mildly inconvenience someone: We pranked him by filling his office with balloons.
Pranks range from harmless jokes among friends to elaborate public stunts.
The word can also function as a verb: They pranked the new employee on her first day.
A prank call is a phone call made as a joke, often to strangers.
Humorous statement seeking laughter
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- jestHumorous remark or act
- japeMocking trick or quip
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
farce · buffoonery · comedy · wit · quip · wisecrack · antic · caper
Deliberately causing discord
- naughtinessMinor improper conduct
- impishnessPlayful mischievous quality
- devilryWicked or mischievous conduct
- rogueryDishonest or mischievous conduct
rascality · misbehavior · prankster · trickster · joker · jester · scamp · rascal
Intentional misleading of others
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- conArgument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
fake · sham · dupery · fabrication · counterfeit · phony · masquerade · pretense
Surprise strike from concealment
- startleFrighten suddenly
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- jump-scareSudden shocking moment
- gotchaExclamation upon catching someone
setup · reveal · reaction · unsuspecting · victim · target · booby-trap · tripwire
joke
Humorous statement seeking laughter
slapstick · farce · buffoonery · comedy · wit · quip · wisecrack · antic · caper · tomfoolery
troublemaking
Deliberately causing discord
- naughtinessMinor improper conduct
- impishnessPlayful mischievous quality
- devilryWicked or mischievous conduct
roguery · rascality · misbehavior · prankster · trickster · joker · jester · scamp · rascal · imp
deception
Intentional misleading of others
swindle · fake · sham · dupery · fabrication · counterfeit · phony · masquerade · pretense · falsification
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
- startleFrighten suddenly
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- jump-scareSudden shocking moment
gotcha · setup · reveal · reaction · unsuspecting · victim · target · booby-trap · tripwire · spring-loaded
initiation
Formal admission ceremony
- fraternitySpirit of brotherly connection
- sororityWomen's collegiate social organization
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
ragging · newcomer · rookie · pledge · tradition · freshman · induction · ordeal
short-sheeting
Folding sheets to block legs
- saran-wrapTransparent plastic food covering
- humorjoke, jokes, joking, comedy, comic
- playfulnessplay, frolic, romp, fun, mirth
- mischiefmischief, hijinks, antics, antic, shenanigans
- minor offensesminor offense, white lie, petty offense, fib, jaywalking
- Campus Incidentsvandalism, bullying, fighting, theft, drug possession
- sleepoversleeping bag, sleeping bags, pajamas, pillow fight, slumber party
prankseriousness
Earnest, weighty demeanor
duty · obligation · work · responsibility · ritual
- prank callDeceptive phone joke
- prank callingNuisance phone harassment
- pulling pranks
- office pranksHumorous tricks at work
- prank calledMade a hoax phone call
- prank videoRecording of a trick
pranks, pranking, pranked, prankish, prankees, prank calls, prank call