noun
antic
AN-tik
Antic (noun) means a piece of foolish, playful or attention-seeking behaviour; usually used in the plural. Example: “The crowd loved the goalkeeper's antics on the goal line.”
noun
1
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."
"His antics at the wedding are still being talked about."
adjective
1
literary Grotesque or absurd in an oddly theatrical way.
"He struck an antic pose and swept off his hat."
How to use antic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSilly behaviour that draws attention.
When to use it
The plural noun is everyday and neutral; the adjective is literary and now uncommon.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
up to his old antics
childish antics
on-field antics
tired of the antics
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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.
Synonyms
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shenanigans
capers
tomfoolery
escapades
larks
grotesque
fantastical
clownish
bizarre
prank
joke
trick
Related words
Rhymes for antic
See all rhymes for 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.
What is the meaning of antic?
"antic" (noun) means a piece of foolish, playful or attention-seeking behaviour; usually used in the plural.
