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Definitions

funny business

NOUN
dirty tricks
Synonyms
WEAK
dirty pool malicious tactics monkey business shady business skullduggery unethical behavior
NOUN
foul play
Synonyms
WEAK
bad deed corruption crime cruel act dirty trick dirty work felony fraud lawbreaking murder violence wrong
NOUN
hanky-panky
Synonyms
WEAK
amour chicane chicanery dalliance deception devilry dirty pool double-dealing fling flirtation fooling around fourberie fraud hankie-pankie hokey-pokey knavery liaison love affair machinations mischief monkey business romance sexual activity sharp practice shenanigans skullduggery subterfuge trickery
Antonyms
WEAK
faithfulness honesty
NOUN
impishness
Synonyms
STRONG
atrocity catastrophe devilment devilry deviltry evil fault friskiness frolicsomeness gag harm hurt ill injury misbehavior mischievousness misconduct misfortune naughtiness outrage playfulness prank prankishness rascality roguery roguishness sabotage shenanigans sportiveness tomfoolery transgression vandalism waggery waggishness wrong wrongdoing
WEAK
diablerie dirty trick high jinks misdoing monkey business waywardness
Antonyms
STRONG
advantage aid assistance behavior benefit blessing favor good goodness happiness help kindness manners obedience right virtue
NOUN
jig
Synonyms
STRONG
accomplishment antic artifice caper catch deception device dodge escapade feat feint frolic gag gambol gimmick imposture jape jest lark maneuver ploy put on ruse shenanigan sleight sport stratagem stunt subterfuge tomfoolery wile
WEAK
monkeyshine practical joke sleight of hand
Antonyms
STRONG
failure frankness honesty honor openness reality truth truthfulness
NOUN
mischief
Synonyms
STRONGEST
catastrophe evil misconduct playfulness prank sabotage vandalism wrongdoing
STRONG
atrocity devilment devilry fault friskiness frolicsomeness gag harm hurt ill impishness injury misbehavior mischievousness misfortune naughtiness outrage rascality roguery roguishness shenanigans sportiveness transgression waggery waggishness wrong
WEAK
dirty trick high jinks misdoing monkey business waywardness
Antonyms
STRONG
advantage aid behavior benefit blessing good happiness help kindness obedience right
NOUN
mischievousness
Synonyms
STRONG
atrocity catastrophe devilment devilry deviltry evil fault friskiness frolicsomeness gag harm hurt ill impishness injury misbehavior misconduct misfortune naughtiness outrage playfulness prank prankishness rascality roguery roguishness sabotage shenanigans sportiveness tomfoolery transgression vandalism waggery waggishness wrong wrongdoing
WEAK
diablerie dirty trick high jinks misdoing monkey business waywardness
Antonyms
STRONG
advantage aid assistance behavior benefit blessing favor good goodness happiness help kindness manners obedience right virtue
NOUN
prankishness
Synonyms
STRONG
atrocity catastrophe devilment devilry deviltry evil fault friskiness frolicsomeness gag harm hurt ill impishness injury misbehavior mischievousness misconduct misfortune naughtiness outrage playfulness prank rascality roguery roguishness sabotage shenanigans sportiveness tomfoolery transgression vandalism waggery waggishness wrong wrongdoing
WEAK
diablerie dirty trick high jinks misdoing monkey business waywardness
Antonyms
STRONG
advantage aid assistance behavior benefit blessing favor good goodness happiness help kindness manners obedience right virtue
NOUN
prankster
Synonyms
STRONGEST
prank rascal rogue
STRONG
atrocity catastrophe devil devilment devilry evil fault friskiness frolicsomeness gag harm hurt ill imp impishness injury misbehavior mischievousness misconduct misfortune naughtiness outrage playfulness rascality roguery roguishness sabotage scamp shenanigans sportiveness transgression vandalism waggery waggishness wrong wrongdoing
WEAK
dirty trick high jinks misdoing monkey business waywardness
Antonyms
STRONG
advantage aid assistance behavior benefit blessing favor good goodness happiness help kindness manners obedience right virtue
NOUN
rascality
Synonyms
STRONG
atrocity catastrophe devilment devilry deviltry evil fault friskiness frolicsomeness gag harm hurt ill impishness injury misbehavior mischievousness misconduct misfortune naughtiness outrage playfulness prank prankishness roguery roguishness sabotage shenanigans sportiveness tomfoolery transgression vandalism waggery waggishness wrong wrongdoing
WEAK
diablerie dirty trick high jinks misdoing monkey business waywardness
Antonyms
STRONG
advantage aid assistance behavior benefit blessing favor good goodness happiness help kindness manners obedience right virtue
NOUN
roguery
Synonyms
STRONG
atrocity catastrophe devilment devilry deviltry evil fault friskiness frolicsomeness gag harm hurt ill impishness injury misbehavior mischievousness misconduct misfortune naughtiness outrage playfulness prank prankishness rascality roguishness sabotage shenanigans sportiveness tomfoolery transgression vandalism waggery waggishness wrong wrongdoing
WEAK
diablerie dirty trick high jinks misdoing monkey business waywardness
Antonyms
STRONG
advantage aid assistance behavior benefit blessing favor good goodness happiness help kindness manners obedience right virtue
NOUN
roguishness
Synonyms
STRONG
atrocity catastrophe devilment devilry deviltry evil fault friskiness frolicsomeness gag harm hurt ill impishness injury misbehavior mischievousness misconduct misfortune naughtiness outrage playfulness prank prankishness rascality roguery sabotage shenanigans sportiveness tomfoolery transgression vandalism waggery waggishness wrong wrongdoing
WEAK
diablerie dirty trick high jinks misdoing monkey business waywardness
Antonyms
STRONG
advantage aid assistance behavior benefit blessing favor good goodness happiness help kindness manners obedience right virtue
NOUN
shenanigan
Synonyms
STRONGEST
gag high jinks misbehavior misconduct prank transgression wrongdoing
STRONG
atrocity catastrophe devilment devilry deviltry evil fault friskiness frolicsomeness harm hurt ill impishness injury mischievousness misfortune naughtiness outrage playfulness prankishness rascality roguery roguishness sabotage sportiveness tomfoolery vandalism waggery waggishness wrong
WEAK
diablerie dirty trick misdoing monkey business waywardness
Antonyms
STRONGEST
behavior manners obedience
STRONG
advantage aid assistance benefit blessing favor good goodness happiness help kindness right virtue
NOUN
shenanigans
Synonyms
STRONG
antics capers frolicsomeness gag horseplay misbehavior mischievousness naughtiness nonsense prank trouble vandalism
WEAK
dirty trick fooling around hanky-panky high jinks horsing around monkey business
NOUN
take in
Synonyms
STRONG
accomplishment antic artifice caper catch deception device dodge escapade feat feint frolic gag gambol gimmick imposture jape jest jig lark maneuver ploy put on ruse shenanigan sleight sport stratagem stunt subterfuge tomfoolery wile
WEAK
monkeyshine practical joke sleight of hand
Antonyms
STRONG
failure frankness honesty honor openness reality truth truthfulness
NOUN
tomfoolery
Synonyms
STRONG
absurdity antics bunk clowning craziness folly foolery foolishness fun giddiness horseplay insanity irresponsibility lunacy madness ridiculousness senselessness shenanigans silliness
WEAK
carrying-on fooling around high jinks joking kidding around ludicrousness
Antonyms
STRONG
sense seriousness
NOUN
trick
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accomplishment antic device feat gag shenanigan sleight of hand stunt
STRONG
caper catch escapade frolic gambol jape jest lark put on sport tomfoolery
WEAK
monkeyshine practical joke
NOUN
trickery
Synonyms
STRONGEST
chicanery deceit dishonesty razzle-dazzle scam shell game stunt
STRONG
cheat cheating chicane con dodge double-dealing dupery flimflam fraud guile hoax imposture pretense quackery shenanigans sting
WEAK
bait and switch double cross fast shuffle fourberie sharp practice snow job swindling underhandedness
Antonyms
STRONGEST
frankness honesty openness truthfulness
STRONG
reality truth

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.

Hmm, any other funny business out there worth looking into …?

From Slate • Sep. 20, 2025

Wendy Liebman is a veteran of the funny business.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2024

In a joint interview with Harper's Bazar in 2019 the two claimed that there was “no funny business at all” during filming.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2024

But while he has added a lot of back stories, especially for Fleetwood, Sonja and Queen, his version also features quite a few new quips as well as some unfortunate broad funny business.

From New York Times • Mar. 17, 2022

“What exactly do you mean by funny business, Coach?”

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan