antic
0 antonyms and opposites of antic, grouped by meaning.
Noun — A piece of foolish, playful or attention-seeking behaviour; usually used in the plural.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A piece of foolish, playful or attention-seeking behaviour; usually used in the plural.
“The crowd loved the goalkeeper's antics on the goal line.”
2. adjective literary
Grotesque or absurd in an oddly theatrical way.
“He struck an antic pose and swept off his hat.”
How to Use Antic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The plural noun is everyday and neutral; the adjective is literary and now uncommon.
Etymology
From Italian antico, ancient, from Latin antiquus. The word was first applied to the grotesque human and animal figures found in excavated Roman remains, and passed from those strange images to strange behaviour.
Full origin of antic →Frequently Asked Questions
Is antic used in the singular?
Very rarely as a noun. In modern English the noun is almost always plural — "his antics" — and a singular "an antic" sounds wrong to most ears.
What is the difference between antics and shenanigans?
Antics are usually visible, physical and silly, the sort of thing a child or a clown does. Shenanigans leans more towards mischief and underhand dealing, and can imply something dishonest as well as playful.
What does "antic disposition" mean in Hamlet?
Hamlet's phrase refers to the mad, clownish manner he intends to put on as a disguise. It uses the older adjective sense of antic, meaning grotesque or theatrically strange, not the modern sense of playful mischief.