as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
the gang of impish children ran into the street, utterly oblivious to the traffic
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impish
The others were Dan Lucas, the guitarist, from York, and Taylor Stewart, the drummer, from outside Glasgow—the group’s impish prankster, who has a penchant for choking his mates and kicking them in the balls.
—
Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
Fit, tan and still charmingly impish, Sanz met with Billboard over a glass of red wine at Sony’s 5020 Studios in Miami in early May.
—Leila Cobo, Billboard, 22 May 2025
Nicholson's portrayal of a rebellious mental hospital inmate is a phenomenal combination of sly intelligence and impish braggadocio, best showcased during the scene where, thwarted in his attempt to watch the World Series on TV, McMurphy ad libs a commentary in front of a blank set.
—EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Whenever O’Brien was onstage, balancing impish humor with a palpable love for movies and compassion for an industry where so many recently lost so much to the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles, the ceremony felt light and loose.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impish
Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
Fit, tan and still charmingly impish, Sanz met with Billboard over a glass of red wine at Sony’s 5020 Studios in Miami in early May.
—Leila Cobo, Billboard, 22 May 2025
Nicholson's portrayal of a rebellious mental hospital inmate is a phenomenal combination of sly intelligence and impish braggadocio, best showcased during the scene where, thwarted in his attempt to watch the World Series on TV, McMurphy ad libs a commentary in front of a blank set.
—EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Whenever O’Brien was onstage, balancing impish humor with a palpable love for movies and compassion for an industry where so many recently lost so much to the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles, the ceremony felt light and loose.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impish
Adjective
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But the palm-sized toy bears holds the same mischievous grin and soft fur that made the original go mind-bogglingly viral.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
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His joyful, mischievous stage presence is enough reason to go.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Sherlock fanatics may recall that Cumberbatch’s interpretation of Baker Street’s greatest sleuth was blessed with hints of wicked humor sublimated under those manic, elementary deductions.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
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The therapist reacts in horror, but judging by the wicked smiles on their faces, this kind of dry, mutually deprecating humor still turns them on.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There’s also a playful side threaded through the record, embodied in the reappearance of his alter ego, Billy Bob Bo Bob — a kind of fantastical trickster figure he’s inhabited before.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
22 Aug. 2025
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Assets with compelling, natural storytelling, where the emotional connectivity and playful nature of the ad proved central to its performance.—
Manuel Machado,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impish. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.
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