1
as in playful
given to good-natured joking or teasing
a frisky kid who keeps the class in stitches with his jokes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in energetic
having much high-spirited energy and movement
the frisky colt didn't like to be kept in his stall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of frisky
Others relish the frisky sounds of sleigh bells and triumphant cascades of horns that embellish so many holiday classics.
—
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
The zebras pranced, all frisky energy; the elephants, lumbering and mournful, trailed behind with their ancient thoughts.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
Along the way, though, Dylan’s transformation from frisky, plucky folk upstart — a walking, talking, cap-wearing version of the Anthology of Folk Music collection everyone was discovering at the time — to master of his domain is heard in large and small ways.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2025
At worst, the Bucks should be frisky.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frisky
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
The zebras pranced, all frisky energy; the elephants, lumbering and mournful, trailed behind with their ancient thoughts.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
Along the way, though, Dylan’s transformation from frisky, plucky folk upstart — a walking, talking, cap-wearing version of the Anthology of Folk Music collection everyone was discovering at the time — to master of his domain is heard in large and small ways.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2025
At worst, the Bucks should be frisky.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frisky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frisky
Adjective
-
Think pét-nat’s playful fizz, fancy kombucha in a wine bottle, zero-proof sparklers, including Elton John’s new bubbly.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Bags This playful, socially minded brand from Spain was created four years ago by Paloma Hernández Tamame, and creates colorful, customizable handbags with decor using children’s construction blocks.—
Alex Wynne,
Footwear News,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
His interests reflect both his creativity and his energetic spirit.—
MARE Staff,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Some 35 times more energetic than any neutrino seen before, the particle might have shot out from a highly active galaxy — a blazar — or a background source of cosmogenic high-energy particles that scientists suspect pervade the cosmos.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But smart casting, witty writing, lively directing, and artful character development have also yielded the rare superhero riff that, as Kovak puts it, finds the human underneath.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
For 30 minutes, the producers mostly paint with a warm, lively palette, whisking fragments of IDM, ghettotech, and house into a hypnotic swirl.—
Rae-Aila Crumble,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
During the trial, many of Cardi's impassioned exchanges with the Janfaza went viral due to her unfiltered, expletive-laced responses and animated expressions, including eye rolls and shrugs.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Tang joined Adult Swim in 2012 and contributed to the development of numerous live‑action and animated originals including Joe Pera Talks with You, Royal Crackers, The Eric Andre Show, and the WGA Award-winning Three Busy Debras.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Three of the court’s 11 active judges would have granted rehearing, and one dissent is expected to be published at a later date.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Their departure from active group work would leave a void that few current girl groups are positioned to fill, if any.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Faber and Rivera’s fight will be the main event for a brisk night of fights.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Ringing piano eighths gallop at a brisk mid-tempo, while percussive hits ring out in the distance.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The same traits—sloppy reasoning but a desire for collective punishment—animate other immigration-policy announcements.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
-
From lanterns several stories tall and hundreds of feet long to interactive exhibits that animate and breathe fire (in the form of smoke, Lewis clarifies), the festival evokes a deep sense of awe.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
23 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frisky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frisky. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
