shenanigans
Tricks and hijinks
Shenanigans are mischievous or deceitful behavior, often with a playful edge: The kids were up to their usual shenanigans.
The word can suggest harmless pranks or something more underhanded: financial shenanigans, political shenanigans.
Almost always plural.
The singular shenanigan occasionally appears but sounds odd to most ears.
Foolish or silly behavior
- monkeyshinesFrivolous or mischievous behavior
- high jinksBoisterous, playful behavior
- rogueryDishonest or mischievous conduct
- naughtinessMinor improper conduct
impishness · devilry · troublemaking · misbehavior · antics · horseplay · hijinks · rascality
Deliberate deception or fraud
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- conArgument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
deceit · dupery · chicanery · subterfuge · skulduggery · flimflam · bamboozlement · double-dealing
Tricks meant to amuse
- gagsJokes or silencing devices
- stuntsDangerous performed feats
- japesHumorous tricks or quips
- hoaxesIntentional public deceptions
tricks · spoofs · gotchas · wind-ups · put-ons · setups · capers · escapades
Violent disorder and destruction
- pandemoniumState of utter confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
- commotionNoisy, confused disturbance
- hullabalooNoisy uproar or fuss
ruckus · uproar · tumult · havoc · disorder · disruption · brouhaha · kerfuffle
tomfoolery
Foolish or silly behavior
- monkeyshinesFrivolous or mischievous behavior
- high jinksBoisterous, playful behavior
- rogueryDishonest or mischievous conduct
naughtiness · impishness · devilry · troublemaking · misbehavior · antics · horseplay · hijinks · rascality · prankishness
trickery
Deliberate deception or fraud
swindle · deceit · dupery · chicanery · subterfuge · skulduggery · flimflam · bamboozlement · double-dealing · funny business
practical jokes
Tricks meant to amuse
hoaxes · tricks · spoofs · gotchas · wind-ups · put-ons · setups · capers · escapades · larks
mayhem
Violent disorder and destruction
- pandemoniumState of utter confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
- commotionNoisy, confused disturbance
hullabaloo · ruckus · uproar · tumult · havoc · disorder · disruption · brouhaha · kerfuffle · fracas
- playfulnessplay, frolic, romp, fun, mirth
- American slangbamboozle, bogus, bunkum, conniption, discombobulate
- fooling aroundjoking, kidding, jesting, fooling, teasing
- jokesjokes, joke, puns, one-liners, pun
- mischiefmischief, hijinks, antics, pranks, antic
- rowdinessrowdiness, boisterousness, raucousness, unruliness, roughhousing
shenanigansintegrity
Moral soundness and consistency
honesty · candor · sincerity · straightforwardness · transparency
shenanigansseriousness
Earnest, weighty demeanor
propriety · decorum · sobriety · earnestness · professionalism
shenanigansfair dealing
Honest, equitable conduct principle
honest work · due process · ethical practice · square dealing