shenanigan
noun
she·nan·i·gan shə-ˈna-ni-gən 
1
: a devious trick used especially for an underhand purpose
2
a
: tricky or questionable practices or conduct —usually used in plural
b
: high-spirited or mischievous activity —usually used in plural
Did you know?
The history of shenanigan is as tricky and mischievous as its meaning. Etymologists have some theories about its origins, but no one has been able to prove them. All we can say for certain is that the earliest known uses of the word in print appeared in the mid-1800s. Although the "underhanded trick" sense of the word is oldest, the most common senses in use now are "tricky or questionable practices" (as in "political shenanigans") and "high-spirited behavior" (as in "youthful shenanigans").
Synonyms
- devilishness
- devilment
- devilry
- deviltry
- diablerie
- espièglerie
- hob
- impishness
- knavery
- mischief
- mischievousness
- rascality
- roguery
- roguishness
- waggery
- waggishness
- wickedness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
students engaging in youthful shenanigans on the last day of school an act of vandalism that went way beyond the usual shenanigans at summer camp
Recent Examples on the Web Bit of a stretch, maybe, how quickly Amy (America Ferrera) ditches her cushy California executive gig for one last shenanigan with her old co-workers. 
Darren Franich, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2021 This shenanigan gets activated when enough states — representing over 270 electoral votes — become parties to the Compact. Jack Fowler, National Review, 12 Mar. 2021 Food sources are particularly slim this time of year, which can result in these types of shenanigans. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 13 May 2020 That’s how the trailer sets up the rowdy shenanigans in this quintessential spring break film, about two friends (David Knell and Perry Lang) who visit Fort Lauderdale for a spring break bacchanal. Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2020 If one of the questions the season 3 finale left you with was whether or not the show will return with more shenanigans, rest easy. Ashley Hoffman, Time, 4 May 2020 Why the shenanigans for such a problematic prospect? Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, 21 Apr. 2020 The social media site maintains it’s trying to clean up thedisinformation and shenanigans, but questionable schemes run rampant and influence peddlers often hide their identities. Jeremy B. Merrill, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2020 Brews Brothers is heavy on puerile shenanigans, many if not most based on bodily fluids and injecting those fluids and miscellaneous body parts into the brewing process. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2020 See More
Darren Franich, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2021 This shenanigan gets activated when enough states — representing over 270 electoral votes — become parties to the Compact. Jack Fowler, National Review, 12 Mar. 2021 Food sources are particularly slim this time of year, which can result in these types of shenanigans. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 13 May 2020 That’s how the trailer sets up the rowdy shenanigans in this quintessential spring break film, about two friends (David Knell and Perry Lang) who visit Fort Lauderdale for a spring break bacchanal. Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2020 If one of the questions the season 3 finale left you with was whether or not the show will return with more shenanigans, rest easy. Ashley Hoffman, Time, 4 May 2020 Why the shenanigans for such a problematic prospect? Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, 21 Apr. 2020 The social media site maintains it’s trying to clean up thedisinformation and shenanigans, but questionable schemes run rampant and influence peddlers often hide their identities. Jeremy B. Merrill, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2020 Brews Brothers is heavy on puerile shenanigans, many if not most based on bodily fluids and injecting those fluids and miscellaneous body parts into the brewing process. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
origin unknown
First Known Use
1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1
shenanigan
noun
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- mischief
- misconduct
- devilment
- playfulness
- mischievousness
- rascality
- roguishness
- devilry
- knavery
- wickedness
- irritation
- roguery
- waggishness
- devilishness
- impishness
- deviltry
- exasperation
- waggery
- hob
- tomfoolery
- diablerie
- misbehavior
- buffoonery
- trickery
- espièglerie
- troublemaking
- chicanery
- naughtiness
- hijinks
- annoyance
- caper
- trick
- friskiness
- monkeying
- antic
- horseplay
- skylarking
- high jinks
- sportiveness
- roughhousing
- hanky-panky
- diabolicalness
- practical joke
- goings-on
- monkey business
- dido
- aggravation
- monkeyshine(s)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- seriousness
- gravity
- gravitas
- solemnity
- solemnness
2
as in tomfoolery
usually shenanigans plural wildly playful or mischievous behavior an act of vandalism that went way beyond the usual shenanigans at summer camp Synonyms & Similar Words
- tomfoolery
- joking
- funning
- buffoonery
- hijinks
- clowning
- monkeying
- mischief
- horseplay
- clownery
- foolery
- skylarking
- slapstick
- roughhousing
- high jinks
- roughhouse
- playfulness
- nonsense
- sporting
- horsing around
- monkey business
- monkeyshine(s)
- trickery
- jesting
- childishness
- silliness
- foolishness
- rowdiness
- clownishness
- rowdyism
- rascality
- boisterousness
- rambunctiousness
- roguishness
- merrymaking
- mischievousness
- frivolity
- revelry
- devilry
- knavery
- frolicking
- deviltry
- roistering
- roguery
- prankishness
- waggery
- cavorting
- rumbustiousness
- romping
- impishness
- gamboling
- sportiveness
- gambolling
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- ruse
- scheme
- trick
- device
- ploy
- stratagem
- gambit
- flimflam
- jig
- gimmick
- dodge
- sleight
- fetch
- knack
- deception
- wile
- trickery
- subterfuge
- bluff
- juggle
- hoax
- chicanery
- skulduggery
- skullduggery
- cheating
- play
- cunning
- swindling
- sleight of hand
- duplicity
- legerdemain
- fakery
- artifice
- swindle
- fraud
- feint
- end run
- cozenage
- jugglery
- sham
- gaff
- dupery
- crookery
- blind
- craft
- front
- smoke screen