frisky

1 of 2

adjective

ˈfri-skē 

friskier; friskiest

: inclined to frisk : playful

frisky puppies

also : lively

a frisky performance

friskily

ˈfri-skə-lē 

adverb

friskiness

ˈfri-skē-nəs 

noun

friskiness

2 of 2

noun

frisk·​i·​ness ˈfriskēnə̇s 

-kin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being frisky

the friskiness of young colts just put out to pasture

Synonyms of frisky

Adjective

• playful

Examples of frisky in a Sentence

Adjective

The kids were frisky after all that candy.

a frisky kid who keeps the class in stitches with his jokes

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Nilsson’s depiction of bodies past their prime conjures not the pitiless naturalism of Joan Semmel or Alice Neel, but something friskier, more delighted. —Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026

In one scene, Little Death lays outrageously bloody waste to the frisky incoming counselors of Camp Miasma (played by Zach Cherry, Quintessa Swindell, and Eva Victor, among others) in a long take set to a needle drop that shouldn’t be spoiled but that adds up to something worthy of blissing out to. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 May 2026

Suppler than Tom Paxton’s original; not as frisky as Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton’s cover. —Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026

Then the Timberwolves got frisky. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1500, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for frisky

• risky
• whiskey
• whisky

Kids Definition

frisky

adjective

ˈfris-kē 

friskier; friskiest

: tending to frisk : playful

frisky puppies

also : lively

a frisky performance

friskily

-kə-lē 

adverb

friskiness

-kē-nəs 

noun