espièglerie

1 a natural disposition for playful behavior a delightful young woman whose espièglerie and sophisticated wit make her a favorite party guest Synonyms coltishness, playfulness, friskiness, impishness, larkiness, mischief, mischievousness, prankishness, sportfulness, sportiveness, tricksinessRelated Words coyness, kittenishness; archness, devilment, devilry (or deviltry), hob, rascality, roguishness, waggery; devilishness, diabolicalness, knavery; frivolousness; energy, liveliness, spiritedness, sprightliness, spunkiness, vivaciousness, vivacity; gaiety (also gayety), jocularity, jocundity, lightheartedness, mirthfulness, whimsicalityNear Antonyms graveness, grimness, serious-mindedness, seriousness, solemnity, solemnness, sternness; priggishness, starchiness, stuffiness; constraint, restraint, self-controlAntonyms earnestness, soberness, sobersidedness

2 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm a femme fatale with a penchant for sophisticated espièglerie that men found irresistible Synonyms devilishness, devilment, devilry (or deviltry), diablerie, mischief, hob, impishness, knavery, mischievousness, rascality, roguery, roguishness, shenanigan(s), waggery, waggishness, wickednessRelated Words diabolicalness, misbehavior, misconduct, naughtiness, troublemaking; buffoonery, friskiness, playfulness, sportiveness; chicanery, trickery; goings-on, hanky-panky, high jinks (also hijinks), monkey business, monkeying, monkeyshine(s), skylarking, tomfoolery; horseplay, roughhousing; antic, caper, dido, practical joke, trick; aggravation, annoyance, exasperation, irritationNear Antonyms gravitas, gravity, seriousness, solemnity, solemnness