as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a knavish bunch of urchins racing pell-mell through the marketplace
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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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This is a high-spirited opening for curious neighbors and travelers alike, with a mischievous sense of fun that firmly roots guests in their destination.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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Play wants safe boundaries as mischievous Mercury conjoins imaginative Neptune in your 5th House of Creativity.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This wicked man is named Tobias Thornhill.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
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In the original fairytale, the stepmother is portrayed as cold, self-serving and wicked, but Hochhauser recognized and uplifted a different version of the character.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Its founder, Mara McCarthy, is the daughter of Conceptual artist Paul McCarthy, who gained prominence in the 1990s for his playful installations critiquing pop culture and featuring such unusual materials as peanut butter, chocolate, and anal plugs.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
27 Apr. 2026
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The video offers a playful reminder of just how far remote work has evolved.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knavish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knavish. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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