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Tomfoolery synonyms

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silliness
(Countable) An act that is silly; a result of being silly.
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  1. (Countable) An act that is silly; a result of being silly.
  2. (Uncountable) That which is perceived as silly or frivolous.
horseplay
Rowdy or rough play.
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  1. Rowdy or rough play.
  2. Rough or rowdy play that can often result in unintentional physical harm.
frolic
In tort law: of an employee, that he or she, during business hours, deviated from the scope of employment to the extent that the employer will not be held responsible for harm resulting from the employee’s actions. The term typically refers to circumstances in which the employee pursued a personal interest during the hours of employment. In tort law: of an employee, that he or she, during business hours, deviated from the scope of employment to the extent that the employer will not be held responsible for harm resulting from the employee’s actions. The term typically refers to circumstances in which the employee pursued a personal interest during the hours of employment.
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  1. In tort law: of an employee, that he or she, during business hours, deviated from the scope of employment to the extent that the employer will not be held responsible for harm resulting from the employee’s actions. The term typically refers to circumstances in which the employee pursued a personal interest during the hours of employment. In tort law: of an employee, that he or she, during business hours, deviated from the scope of employment to the extent that the employer will not be held responsible for harm resulting from the employee’s actions. The term typically refers to circumstances in which the employee pursued a personal interest during the hours of employment.
  2. Playful behavior or merriment:
  3. A playful trick; prank
absurdity
The quality or state of being absurd; nonsense
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  1. The quality or state of being absurd; nonsense
  2. An absurd idea or thing
folly
A structure, such as a pavilion in a garden, that is chiefly decorative rather than practical in purpose.
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  1. A structure, such as a pavilion in a garden, that is chiefly decorative rather than practical in purpose.
  2. Lack of good sense, understanding, or foresight:
  3. A costly undertaking having an absurd or ruinous outcome.
foolery
An instance of foolish behavior or speech; a jest.
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  1. An instance of foolish behavior or speech; a jest.
  2. Foolish behaviour or speech.
  3. Foolish behavior or a foolish action
foolishness
(Uncountable) The state of being foolish.
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  1. (Uncountable) The state of being foolish.
  2. (Countable) A thing or event that is foolish, or an absurdity.
idiocy
An idiotic act or remark
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  1. An idiotic act or remark
  2. Behavior like that of an idiot; great foolishness or stupidity
  3. A foolish or stupid utterance or deed.
imbecility
An imbecile act or remark
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  1. An imbecile act or remark
  2. Behavior like that of an imbecile; great foolishness or stupidity
  3. Something, such as an act or suggestion, that is considered stupid or foolish.
insanity
Incapacity because of a mental disorder to participate adequately as a defendant in criminal proceedings or to understand the imposition of a criminal punishment, particularly the death penalty.
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  1. Incapacity because of a mental disorder to participate adequately as a defendant in criminal proceedings or to understand the imposition of a criminal punishment, particularly the death penalty.
  2. Something that is extremely foolish, distinctly irrational, or wildly excited:
  3. Incapacity to form the criminal intent necessary for legal responsibility, as when a mental disorder prevents a person from knowing the difference between right and wrong.
lunacy
A wildly foolish or irrational act.
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  1. A wildly foolish or irrational act.
  2. Great or wild foolishness:
  3. (--- Obs.) Intermittent insanity, formerly supposed to change in intensity with the phases of the moon
madness
The condition of being mentally deranged.
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  1. The condition of being mentally deranged.
  2. Great folly:
  3. Dementia; insanity; lunacy
nonsense
Matter of little or no importance or usefulness:
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  1. Matter of little or no importance or usefulness:
  2. Words or signs having no intelligible meaning:
  3. Extravagant foolishness or frivolity:
senselessness
The state of being senseless.
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  1. The state of being senseless.
silliness
(Countable) An act that is silly; a result of being silly.
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  1. (Countable) An act that is silly; a result of being silly.
  2. (Uncountable) That which is perceived as silly or frivolous.
zaniness
The state or condition of being zany.
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  1. The state or condition of being zany.
craziness
(Uncountable) The state of being broken down or weakened; as, the craziness of a ship, or of the limbs.
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  1. (Uncountable) The state of being broken down or weakened; as, the craziness of a ship, or of the limbs.
  2. (Uncountable) The state of being broken in mind; imbecility or weakness of intellect; derangement.
  3. (Countable) The result or product of being crazy.
devilry
Deviltry
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  1. Deviltry
  2. Black magic; witchcraft
  3. Evil or diabolic behavior; great wickedness or cruelty
deviltry
An act of mischief, cruelty, or witchcraft.
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  1. An act of mischief, cruelty, or witchcraft.
  2. Reckless mischief, fun, etc.
  3. Reckless mischief.
diablerie
Devilish conduct; deviltry.
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  1. Devilish conduct; deviltry.
  2. Lore about devils, diabolism, etc.
  3. Deviltry; mischief
high jinks
Tricky and/or humorous behavior
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  1. Tricky and/or humorous behavior
  2. Lively pranks; boisterous fun
  3. Playful, often noisy and rowdy activity, usually involving mischievous pranks.
impishness
The state or quality of being impish; mischievousness.
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  1. The state or quality of being impish; mischievousness.
mischief
A cause or source of harm, damage, or annoyance
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  1. A cause or source of harm, damage, or annoyance
  2. Action or conduct that causes damage or trouble
  3. Harm, damage, or injury, esp. that done by a person
mischievousness
The characteristic of being mischievous; the tendency to make mischief.
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  1. The characteristic of being mischievous; the tendency to make mischief.
rascality
A low, mean, or dishonest act
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  1. A low, mean, or dishonest act
  2. A base or mischievous act.
  3. Behavior or character typical of a rascal.
roguery
Behavior characteristic of a rogue.
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  1. Behavior characteristic of a rogue.
  2. The behavior or an act of a rogue
  3. Playful mischief
balderdash
(Archaic) A worthless mixture, especially of liquors.
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  1. (Archaic) A worthless mixture, especially of liquors.
  2. Senseless talk or writing; nonsense
  3. Nonsense.
blather
Foolish talk; loquacious nonsense
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  1. Foolish talk; loquacious nonsense
bunkum
Empty or insincere talk; claptrap.
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  1. Empty or insincere talk; claptrap.
  2. (Informal) Talk that is empty, insincere, or merely for effect; humbug
claptrap
A trick or device to gain applause; humbug.
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  1. A trick or device to gain applause; humbug.
  2. Pretentious, insincere, or empty language:
  3. Absurd, insincere, or empty talk or writing
drivel
Saliva, drool
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  1. Saliva, drool
  2. (Now Rare) Saliva running from the mouth
  3. Silly, stupid talk; childish nonsense; twaddle
garbage
Worthless or nonsensical matter; rubbish:
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  1. Worthless or nonsensical matter; rubbish:
  2. Refuse; trash.
  3. Things or something thrown away, specif. spoiled or waste food
idiocy
An idiotic act or remark
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  1. An idiotic act or remark
  2. Behavior like that of an idiot; great foolishness or stupidity
  3. A foolish or stupid utterance or deed.
nonsense
Things of relatively no importance or value; trivialities
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  1. Things of relatively no importance or value; trivialities
  2. Matter of little or no importance or usefulness:
  3. Extravagant foolishness or frivolity:
piffle
Nonsense, foolish talk.
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  1. Nonsense, foolish talk.
  2. Talk, writing, action, etc. regarded as insignificant or nonsensical
  3. Foolish or futile talk or ideas; nonsense.
poppycock
(Informal) Foolish talk; nonsense
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  1. (Informal) Foolish talk; nonsense
rigmarole
Foolish or incoherent rambling talk; nonsense
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  1. Foolish or incoherent rambling talk; nonsense
  2. Confused, rambling, or incoherent discourse; nonsense.
  3. Nonsense; confused and incoherent talk.
rubbish
Any material rejected or thrown away as worthless; trash; refuse
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  1. Any material rejected or thrown away as worthless; trash; refuse
  2. Refuse; garbage.
  3. Foolish discourse; nonsense.
trash
Disparaging, often abusive speech about a person or group.
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  1. Disparaging, often abusive speech about a person or group.
  2. Broken, discarded, or worthless things; rubbish; refuse
  3. Something broken off or removed to be discarded, especially plant trimmings.
twaddle
Foolish, empty talk or writing; nonsense
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  1. Foolish, empty talk or writing; nonsense
tommyrot
Nonsense, rot.
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  1. Nonsense, rot.
  2. Utter foolishness; nonsense.
  3. (Slang) Nonsense; foolishness
applesauce
(Slang, US, dated, 1920s) Nonsense, balderdash, bunk, piffle.
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  1. (Slang, US, dated, 1920s) Nonsense, balderdash, bunk, piffle.
  2. A dessert or relish made of apples simmered in water and puréed, often containing sugar, cinnamon, etc.
  3. (Slang) Nonsense; hokum
baloney
(Uncountable, chiefly US, slang) Nonsense.
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  1. (Uncountable, chiefly US, slang) Nonsense.
  2. (Slang) Foolish or exaggerated talk or behavior; nonsense
  3. Nonsense.
bilge
Water that seeps or leaks in, collects there, and becomes stagnant and dirty
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  1. Water that seeps or leaks in, collects there, and becomes stagnant and dirty
  2. (Nautical) The rounded portion of a ship's hull, forming a transition between the bottom and the sides.
  3. (Slang) Worthless or silly talk or writing; nonsense
bull
An official document, edict, or decree, esp. one from the pope
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  1. An official document, edict, or decree, esp. one from the pope
  2. A person regarded as like a bull in size, strength, etc.
  3. A ludicrously illogical or incongruous mistake in statement (Ex.: I'm glad I hate onions because if I liked onions, I'd eat them, and I can't stand onions)
bunk
(Nautical) A built-in bed on board ship, often erected in tiers one above the other.
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  1. (Nautical) A built-in bed on board ship, often erected in tiers one above the other.
  2. A bunk bed.
  3. (US) A wooden case or box, which serves for a seat in the daytime and for a bed at night.
crap
A losing first throw in the game of craps.
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  1. A losing first throw in the game of craps.
  2. Something useless, inferior, or worthless; trash; junk
  3. Nonsense, falseness, insincerity, etc.
hooey
Nonsense:
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  1. Nonsense:
malarkey
(Slang) Insincere, meaningless, or deliberately misleading talk; nonsense
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  1. (Slang) Insincere, meaningless, or deliberately misleading talk; nonsense
  2. Exaggerated or foolish talk, usually intended to deceive:
Find another word for tomfoolery. In this page you can discover 57 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for tomfoolery, like: silliness, horseplay, frolic, fun, absurdity, folly, foolery, foolishness, idiocy, imbecility and insanity.

Sentence Examples

  • They particularly enjoy the clown scenes, when much tomfoolery and satire take place.

  • I don't do much aimless InterWeb tomfoolery anymore.

  • Manfred Egan If you put tomfoolery into a computer, nothing comes out of it but tomfoolery.

  • I regret I permitted myself to be a party to such tomfoolery.

  • Not only is cricket the untapped male market, it is the last bastion of British drunken sporting tomfoolery.

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Words that mention tomfoolery in the Dictionary

Words near tomfoolery in the Thesaurus