knavish

adjective

ˈnā-vish How to pronounce knavish (audio)
Definition of knavishnext
as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness a knavish bunch of urchins racing pell-mell through the marketplace

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knavish
  1. mischievous
  2. wicked
  3. playful
Adjective
  • The monkeys are adorable from a distance and mischievous up close.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
  • On their full-length debut, the buzzy NYC siblings pay tribute to the fuckboy charm of the aughts with their precocious, mischievous, and rapidly evolving pop music.
    — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of mischievous
Adjective
  • Mischa Glooshkoff, aka Michael Graves, has light brown curls, a wicked grin, and a wiry frame—perfect casting for the grand boulevardier who would lead my naïve young father astray.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • There’s also the problem of Angelique’s wicked stepmother, Argan’s gold-digging second wife, Beline.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of wicked
Adjective
  • That hasn’t changed much on Heavy Is the Crown, especially since Cordae spends a chunk of this otherwise fleet and playful album lagging behind his sparring partner.
    — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Qiu’s eloquence lies in such playful gestures, which are pleasurable for their own sake.
    — Mark Asch, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of playful

Browse Nearby Words

knaves
knavish
knead
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Cite this Entry

“Knavish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knavish. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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