antic

/ˈæntɪk/

Other forms: antics; anticly; anticking; antically; anticked

An antic is a prank to the extreme. It’s outrageous, but it’s usually meant to be funny. When the senior class steals the principal’s car and manages to get it inside the gym, the antic may be condemned by the school, but everyone else probably thinks it’s hilarious.

The noun antic is most commonly used in the plural form, as in “the coach was growing tired of his star player’s silly antics after scoring.” Sometimes antics can lean toward the not-so-funny side as well. Really ridiculous behavior that is more foolish than funny can also be called antics. Antic can also be used an as adjective, as in "her antic stand-up routine had everyone rolling in the aisles." It more infrequently can be used as a verb meaning "to act like a clown."

Definitions of antic

1. adjective

   ludicrously odd
   “Hamlet's assumed antic disposition”

   synonyms: fantastic, fantastical, grotesque

   strange, unusual

   being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
2. noun

   a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement
   synonyms: caper, joke, prank, put-on, trick

   types:

   dirty trick

   an unkind or aggressive trick

   practical joke

   a prank or trick played on a person (especially one intended to make the victim appear foolish)

   April fool

   a practical joke or trick played on the first day of April

   hotfoot

   a practical joke that involves inserting a match surreptitiously between the sole and upper of the victim's shoe and then lighting it

   rag

   a boisterous practical joke (especially by college students)

   snipe hunt

   an elaborate practical joke in which the unsuspecting victim hunts a snipe and is typically left in the dark holding a bag and waiting for the snipe to run into it

   type of:

   diversion, recreation

   an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
3. verb

   act as or like a clown
   synonyms: clown, clown around

   type of:

   jest, joke

   act in a funny or teasing way