impish

adjective

imp·​ish ˈim-pish How to pronounce impish (audio)
: of, relating to, or befitting an imp
especially : mischievous
impishly adverb
impishness noun

Examples of impish in a Sentence

the gang of impish children ran into the street, utterly oblivious to the traffic
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The impish Reeves brings puppy-dog codependence to the scruffy Estragon, who leans on Vladimir as his body and memory fail him. Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025 For years, his default expression for the cameras was a catlike, impish grin. Sam Knight, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025 For his last songs of the night at nearly 1 a.m., the entire day’s lineup of performers joined him onstage, and his characteristically impish smile back at them was really something special. Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025 Despite the austerity of her ambitions, there are moments of lush imagination that leaven the tone somewhat, like a dream sequence in which Teresa, furiously making bread in the middle of the night, is teased by an impish child. Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impish

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impish was in 1652

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impish. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

impish

adjective
imp·​ish ˈim-pish How to pronounce impish (audio)
impishly adverb
impishness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on impish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!