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Synonyms

prankster

American  
[prangk-ster] / ˈpræŋk stər /

noun

  1. a mischievous or malicious person who plays tricks, practical jokes, etc., at the expense of another.

prankster British  
/ ˈpræŋkstə /

noun

  1. a practical joker

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of prankster

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; prank 1 + -ster

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At roughly the same time, a 16-year-old prankster from Ohio named Jake Paul was posting six-second Vine videos - chatting to pineapples in supermarkets and climbing into strangers' shopping trolleys for a laugh.

From BBC

Paul first made his name as an online prankster and influencer, amassing a huge social media following - particularly on Instagram, where he boasts more than 28 million followers.

From BBC

An online prankster who invaded the pitch during a football match in Dublin has been banned from attending all national and international games for five years.

From BBC

An internet prankster has been charged by police after appearing with the Australia team before their rugby league game against England on Saturday.

From BBC

He is his own niche, a prankster who holds up a funhouse mirror to humanity and makes you wonder if the resultant image is more revealing than a normal one.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.