as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a knavish bunch of urchins racing pell-mell through the marketplace
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knavish
Wells could be playful, knavish, and his tone here is one of urgency and optimism about the distribution of information.
—
BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2021
The same people who are now telling us that only Republican-voting obscurantists, ignorant deplorables and knavish right-wing media pundits are raising doubts about the vaccine would have been oozing skepticism.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 12 July 2021
BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2021
The same people who are now telling us that only Republican-voting obscurantists, ignorant deplorables and knavish right-wing media pundits are raising doubts about the vaccine would have been oozing skepticism.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 12 July 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knavish
Adjective
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But of course, the mischievous Cat in the Hat can only save the day in typical Seussian fashion.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
27 Feb. 2026
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That the Fendons don’t think to immediately tell their devastated adult son, Harry (Craig Roberts), that his dad is still alive is only the first delightfully absurd wrinkle in this mischievous black comedy.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Coming off a trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight, the Blue Devils started 3-6 against a wicked nonconference schedule as the headliner in the conference’s bumpy overall start.—
Aaron Beard,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
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Hamas is a wicked organization.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Taurus April 20 – May 20 This morning invites playful focus and steady joy.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2026
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April 20 – May 20 This morning invites playful focus and steady joy.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knavish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knavish. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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