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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Recent Examples of impish
Like the impish anti-romance that crumbles around it, the movie’s twist is both transgressive enough to be pleased with itself and also rooted in a reality that refuses to be dismissed as a bad joke.
—
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
Helm is the curious, mercurial, impish, affectionate and dangerous air current of the English Pennines, swooping over the Eden District from prehistory until now.
—The Know, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Lauren Elliott, though, was a designer at Broderbund Games, working in a former liquor store beneath a sign that said DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCY REDUCTION DEPARTMENT alongside an impish ex-Disney animator named Gene Portwood who often doodled Mickey Mouse in obscene poses.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Once again pointing to a mature take on something nostalgic , body mists aren’t regaled to to being impish starter scents.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impish
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
Helm is the curious, mercurial, impish, affectionate and dangerous air current of the English Pennines, swooping over the Eden District from prehistory until now.
—The Know, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Lauren Elliott, though, was a designer at Broderbund Games, working in a former liquor store beneath a sign that said DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCY REDUCTION DEPARTMENT alongside an impish ex-Disney animator named Gene Portwood who often doodled Mickey Mouse in obscene poses.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Once again pointing to a mature take on something nostalgic , body mists aren’t regaled to to being impish starter scents.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impish
Adjective
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Roy interjected with the mischievous smirk typical of a younger brother trying to ruffle some feathers.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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The new set will let builders assemble the mischievous supernatural messenger and his watchful bird companion.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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Spark, who was born in 1918 and died in 2006, had a talent for writing wicked little books that defy easy categorization; her coming-of-age stories feel like horror stories, her horror stories feel like love stories, and her love stories feel like acid satire.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
10 June 2026
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But after Sophie’s father dies, she’s forced to become a maid herself by her wicked stepmother and stepsisters.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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The Rabbit Hole is more playful, with its games room, pool table, ping pong and private bar, seemingly designed for long nights and bad decisions.—
Arion McNicoll,
TheWeek,
15 June 2026
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The result was a sleek white ruffled top, when worn with matching trousers felt both modern and refreshing while another floral skirt embodied a playful feminine energy that personified warm weather dressing.—
Diana Tsui,
Footwear News,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impish. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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