prank

24 synonyms for prank, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A playful trick or joke played on someone, usually harmless.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

joke trick fool punk

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

mischief hoax stunt gag rag

Rare, literary or technical

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

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Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A playful trick or joke played on someone, usually harmless.

“Swapping the salt and sugar was a classic prank that had the whole office laughing.”

joke mischief hoax stunt caper capriccio curvet gag gambade high jinks lark marlock monkeyshine practical joke prat reak rag shenanigan trick windup

2. verb

To play a trick on someone as a joke.

“They pranked their flatmate by filling his room with balloons.”

trick fool punk hoax wind up

3. verb archaic

To dress or adorn in a showy, ostentatious way.

“She pranked herself out in all her finest jewellery.”

deck out

How to use prank

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

pull a prank prank call play a prank on

Etymology

Origin uncertain, but likely tied to an old sense of "showing off" or "dressing ostentatiously," related to Dutch "pronken" ("to flaunt"). The modern "mischievous trick" sense grew from an earlier idea of being crafty or putting on an act.

Full origin of prank →

Frequently asked questions

What is a prank?

A prank is a playful trick or practical joke, usually harmless, played on someone to amuse rather than to genuinely upset them. Good pranks are light-hearted and safe, leaving everyone laughing — including the person on the receiving end.

What is a prank call?

A prank call is when someone phones a person to play a joke or trick on them, usually anonymously and for a laugh, such as a fake wrong number or a silly made-up request. It is meant to be harmless fun rather than to genuinely alarm the person.

Is a prank the same as bullying?

No. A prank is meant to be harmless and, ideally, funny to everyone involved, including the person it is played on. When a so-called prank causes real fear, humiliation, harm or ongoing distress — or the target clearly is not in on the joke — it stops being a prank and becomes bullying.

What is the difference between a prank and a practical joke?

The two terms are largely interchangeable. "Practical joke" is the slightly more formal, traditional phrase, while "prank" is the shorter, more casual and modern word. Both describe a trick set up to amuse. If anything, a practical joke often implies a more elaborate set-up, whereas a prank can be as simple as a quick surprise.

What is the difference between a prank and a hoax?

A prank is a trick played on a specific person or small group for a quick laugh, and everyone usually finds out fast. A hoax is a larger, more deliberate deception designed to fool many people into believing something false, sometimes for a long time. All hoaxes are tricks, but a prank is smaller and lighter in intent.

What are some examples of harmless pranks?

Classic harmless pranks include swapping salt for sugar, taping over a computer mouse sensor, filling a room with balloons, setting someone's desktop wallpaper to a screenshot of their desktop, or a gentle fake phone call. The key is that the target ends up laughing, not upset or inconvenienced in any lasting way.

What is April Fools' Day?

April Fools' Day, on 1 April, is a tradition in many countries where people play pranks and practical jokes on each other, then reveal the trick by shouting "April Fools!" It is the one day of the year most associated with pranking.

People also searched

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Nearby words

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