tomfoolery
Playful nonsense behavior
Tomfoolery is foolish or silly behavior, usually harmless but annoying: Enough tomfoolery—let's get back to work.
The word suggests playful mischief rather than serious misconduct, often used by adults scolding children or by anyone tired of nonsense.
Playful mischievous acts
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- hijinksBoisterous playful mischief
- monkeyshinesFrivolous or mischievous behavior
- horseplayBoisterous rough behavior
capers · escapades · larks · frolics · tricks · gags · japes · skylarking
Unpredictable urge or notion
- whimSudden arbitrary desire
- fancyElaborate or decorative
- playfulnessLighthearted, frisky spirit
- lightheartednessCheerful lack of worry
frivolity · levity · merriment · jollity · frolic · sportiveness · impishness · pixie
Senseless talk or writing
- poppycockFoolish or meaningless talk
- hogwashFoolish or untrue talk
- malarkeyInsincere foolish talk
- rubbishWaste or nonsense
twaddle · drivel · claptrap · gibberish · hokum · bunk · codswallop · gobbledygook
Intentional misleading of others
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- skulduggeryDishonest or unscrupulous behavior
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
wile · craftiness · slyness · cunning · duplicity · fraud · hoodwinking · bamboozlement
Placeholder for unnamed objects
- doohickeyPlaceholder word for objects
- whatchamacallitStand-in for forgotten names
- gizmoNameless mechanical device
- doodadUnnamed small object
widget · thingamabob · thingy · whatsis · thingummy · dingus · contraption · gewgaw
pranks
Playful mischievous acts
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- hijinksBoisterous playful mischief
- monkeyshinesFrivolous or mischievous behavior
horseplay · capers · escapades · larks · frolics · tricks · gags · japes · skylarking · roguery
caprice
Unpredictable urge or notion
- whimSudden arbitrary desire
- fancyElaborate or decorative
- playfulnessLighthearted, frisky spirit
lightheartedness · frivolity · levity · merriment · jollity · frolic · sportiveness · impishness · pixie · elfin
balderdash
Senseless talk or writing
rubbish · twaddle · drivel · claptrap · gibberish · hokum · bunk · codswallop · gobbledygook · falderal
deception
Intentional misleading of others
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- skulduggeryDishonest or unscrupulous behavior
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
guile · wile · craftiness · slyness · cunning · duplicity · fraud · hoodwinking · bamboozlement · flimflam
thingamajig
Placeholder for unnamed objects
- doohickeyPlaceholder word for objects
- whatchamacallitStand-in for forgotten names
- gizmoNameless mechanical device
doodad · widget · thingamabob · thingy · whatsis · thingummy · dingus · contraption · gewgaw · tchotchke
tomfooleryseriousness
Earnest, weighty demeanor
solemnity · gravity · sobriety · earnestness · gravitas
tomfoolerypropriety
Correctness of conduct
decorum · sensibleness · good sense · responsibility · prudence