prankful

A prankful child hides a whoopee cushion on a chair.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Inclined to play pranks: "Prankful" describes a person who is fond of playing mischievous tricks or practical jokes on others.
   • Causing trouble or disruption: In a broader sense, it can refer to something (like a machine) that is prone to malfunctioning or acting erratically, as if playing a trick.

Usage Examples

• (A child who enjoys playing mischievous tricks.)
• (A brother who likes to play practical jokes.)
• (A machine that acts unreliably, as if playing a trick.)

Advanced Usage

• "Prankful humor": a style of comedy that involves tricks or deceptions for amusement.

  • His prankful humor made him popular at parties. (His jokes involving tricks were well-received.)

• "Prankful nature": an inherent tendency to be mischievous.

  • The puppy's prankful nature led it to hide shoes. (The puppy's playful mischief caused it to hide items.)

Variants and Related Words

• Prankish (adj): another form of the same word, meaning fond of playing pranks.

  • The prankish kitten knocked over the vase. (The kitten was mischievous.)

• Prankster (n): a person who plays pranks.

  • The prankster put a whoopee cushion on the chair. (The person who plays tricks.)

• Prank (n/v): a mischievous trick (noun) or to play such a trick (verb).

  • He pulled a prank on his friend. (He played a trick.)

Synonyms

• Mischievous: causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way.
• Playful: full of fun and high spirits, often in a teasing manner.
• Waggish: humorous in a playful, often mischievous way.

Related Idioms

• "Up to one's old tricks": engaging in familiar mischievous behavior.

  • The prankful employee was up to his old tricks, hiding files. (He was repeating his usual pranks.)

• "Play a joke on": to deceive or trick someone for amusement.

  • She played a joke on her roommate by changing the alarm clock. (She performed a prank.)