as in tricks
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
as a prank, several students managed to change all the classroom clocks to different times
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Recent Examples of pranks
And compared to some of Fleury’s past pranks on teammates, a few misplaced letters on a nameplate would be relatively light.
—
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2026
Of course, the pranks are all in good fun, with owners keeping things safe and playful.
—Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
According to a 2025 roundup of April Fools’ food promotions by the New York Post, several national brands followed Dunkin’s lead by offering tangible rewards instead of traditional pranks.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Although both dates are the perfect excuse for laughs and small scares through pranks, their origins stem from different historical and religious events.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Just don't try anything like these pranks from companies that backfired in spectacular ways.
—Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Here are some of Louisville's April Fools' Day pranks from April 1, 2026.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Apr. 2026
On the Wednesday, April 1, episode of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, the daytime talk show host, 44, shared that her daughter Mila, 12, loves to pull pranks.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Folks would dip dresses and suits in glowing, phosphorescent paint and wear them around town performing various pranks or artistic displays.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Mar. 2026
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2026
Of course, the pranks are all in good fun, with owners keeping things safe and playful.
—Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
According to a 2025 roundup of April Fools’ food promotions by the New York Post, several national brands followed Dunkin’s lead by offering tangible rewards instead of traditional pranks.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Although both dates are the perfect excuse for laughs and small scares through pranks, their origins stem from different historical and religious events.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Just don't try anything like these pranks from companies that backfired in spectacular ways.
—Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Here are some of Louisville's April Fools' Day pranks from April 1, 2026.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Apr. 2026
On the Wednesday, April 1, episode of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, the daytime talk show host, 44, shared that her daughter Mila, 12, loves to pull pranks.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Folks would dip dresses and suits in glowing, phosphorescent paint and wear them around town performing various pranks or artistic displays.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pranks
Noun
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Davis occasionally destabilizes this very familiar soundtrack with sly production tricks from Horne.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
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However, deer are adaptable creatures and often get used to the tricks put in their path, eventually ignoring attempts to deter them, Walke says.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The few works in the show depicting Stojka’s experiences before and after internment capture the particularity of Romani life.—
Ben Davis,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Where’s the respect for each other and each other’s experiences?—
T. M. Brown,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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His incredulity about their increasingly risky adventures—this is the one that involves a Pontiac Fiero in outer space—becomes one of the film’s running gags.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Shore Excursions Shore excursions range from highly active adventures to more sedate cultural experiences.—
Aaron Saunders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On Saturday night, attendees at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner will thrill to the antics of Oz Pearlman, a renowned mentalist who dazzles audiences with mind-reading tricks.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
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In the lead-up to the matchup in Detroit, the ESPN broadcast shared a live shot of members of the Magic partaking in some pre-game antics.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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New escapades come and go, but the structure of their life stays the same — the two of them, moving together.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
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The Litles detailed in the complaint and in an interview with the Tribune how their frisky escapades, appearance and young children seemed to increasingly agitate residents and staff.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There are hyper-local gags about the Williamsburg bar Union Pool and the undesirability of living in the Financial District, and a creature known as Rat Pizza — like Pizza Rat in reverse.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
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However, the iconic couch gags are far less frequent these days.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Barracuda, the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, allowed two goals in the first period and never fully recovered in a 5-1 loss to the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday, as San Jose was swept in the best-of-three first-round series two games to none at Lee’s Family Forum.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
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This will be one of a record nine international games scheduled for the 2026 season, which will take place across four continents in seven countries.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This Italian salsa verde is a traditional herb sauce made with parsley, garlic, and capers.—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
24 Apr. 2026
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Anyone returning from a city trip and regretting not having eaten a Käsekrainer at the famous Betzinger sausage stand in front of the Albertina Museum will find a snack in the suite with various cheeses, ham, gherkins, and capers—an accidental direct hit.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pranks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pranks. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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