practical joker

5 synonyms for practical joker, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — Someone who plays tricks on other people that involve doing something rather than saying something — hiding a possession, rigging a chair, sending a fake message — in order to startle them and get a laugh.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

joker

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

prankster jokester trickster wind-up merchant

How to use practical joker

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a notorious practical joker office practical joker the family practical joker

Neutral to mildly disapproving. Calling someone a practical joker often carries a hint of warning to whoever is listening.

Etymology

From practical joke, where practical means 'carried out in action' as opposed to merely spoken, plus the agent noun joker.

Full origin of practical joker →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a practical joker and a prankster?

They mean nearly the same thing, but prankster is more casual and is now the usual word for someone who films stunts for an audience. Practical joker is slightly older and suggests private tricks played on people the joker actually knows.

Why is it called a practical joke?

Because it is put into practice — acted out physically — instead of being told. The contrast is with a verbal joke, which exists only in words.

People also searched

joker jokester prankster trickster

Nearby words

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