Word Of The Day

shenanigans

shenanigans • \shuh-NAN-ih-gunz\  • plural noun
Shenanigans is an informal word used to refer to activity or behavior that is either not honest or proper, or is mischievous or high-spirited. Its oldest meaning, and the one most likely to be encountered as the singular shenanigan, is “a devious trick used especially for an underhanded purpose.”

// The CEO resigned amid accusations of financial shenanigans and dubious deals.

// The tween sleepover shenanigans involved goofy hats, fake mustaches, and giggles galore but everyone eventually fell asleep.

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Examples:
“Do you remember what it was like to be bored—like really bored? As a Gen Xer, I didn’t grow up scrolling social media or playing endless hours of ‘Minecraft’ to keep me busy; instead, I spent a fair amount of my free time after school crafting the perfect prank call. ... In retrospect, it was time well spent. Well, maybe. Some shenanigans may have gone too far.” — Elana Rabinowitz, The Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026

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