as in amusing
given to good-natured joking or teasing
the little girl was lighthearted and playful
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of playful
This past Oscar night, the couple went viral after granddaughter Mary Katherine shared a video of a playful moment between the two.
—
Angela Andaloro, People.com, 2 July 2025
But playful, electronic reimaginings of Grandma’s feel-good tunes and funny pop culture sound bites weren’t getting us anywhere past Havre de Grace.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025
Rowan is a funny, playful, and high-spirited young boy who keeps everyone around him smiling.
—Mare Staff, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025
Other than exploring easy walking trails or grabbing a coffee with a view, seek out the playful troll statues nestled in the forest (Trollskogen) for a dose of Norwegian culture and a memorable adventure in nature.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for playful
Angela Andaloro, People.com, 2 July 2025
But playful, electronic reimaginings of Grandma’s feel-good tunes and funny pop culture sound bites weren’t getting us anywhere past Havre de Grace.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025
Rowan is a funny, playful, and high-spirited young boy who keeps everyone around him smiling.
—Mare Staff, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025
Other than exploring easy walking trails or grabbing a coffee with a view, seek out the playful troll statues nestled in the forest (Trollskogen) for a dose of Norwegian culture and a memorable adventure in nature.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for playful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful
Adjective
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The amusing interaction comes a few days after Plum appeared to urge referees to give Clark, 23-years-old, a technical foul for stepping onto the court during the Sparks' game against the Indiana Fever on Thursday, June 26.—
Grace Jordan-Weinstein,
People.com,
30 June 2025
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Although many other theories were quite amusing on social media.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Wearing a now-iconic red tie and less cartoonish design with more angular and mischievous features, DKC’s version of Kong has been a staple for over 30 years.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
10 July 2025
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Her intelligence is that vital and exacting, her wit that mischievous, her concerns – feminism, environmentalism, dystopian societies – that urgently relevant.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
The main floor features a flowing open-concept living room, a gourmet kitchen with a double-wide island ripe for entertaining, and a formal dining room perfect for family gatherings .—
Miriam Schwartz,
Boston Herald,
27 June 2025
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Ker’s attempts to get fit enough to run a marathon in aid of the Wrexham Miners Project proved an entertaining subplot throughout series four.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
In February, a lively and well-attended protest march took over the streets of downtown McAllen; a news site compared it to a celebration after a high-school-football victory.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
7 July 2025
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Despite multiple comeback attempts, Miami dropped the series opener to the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-5, in front of a lively crowd of 16,715 fans—many of whom stayed for the postgame fireworks.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
So where do locals and visitors in-the-know gather to eat, drink and be merry?—
Alissa Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Throw on wide-leg jeans and a button-down, slip these on, and be on your merry way.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Through goofy quips, energetic displays of enthusiasm, and consistent perseverance, Derek continues to push himself and his classmates toward a productive (and silly) semester of learning.—
Caroline Beck,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
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Despite his affectionate nature and goofy charm, no one ever came to reclaim him—and no one has shown any interest in him since.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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That coherence is a physical, energetic property in one’s mind-body system.—
Ginny Whitelaw,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Both Explorer’s Lounge and the Pinnacle Bar are on the quieter side, while Rolling Stone Lounge and Billboard Onboard have live music and a more energetic vibe, particularly later in the evening.—
Susan B. Barnes,
Travel + Leisure,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Che Diaz), others are flourishing; my favorite plot arc this season belongs to the elegant real-estate agent Seema Patel (Sarita Choudhury), a character who began, perhaps, as a frisky Samantha stand-in, but who has since accrued her own emotional gravity.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
30 May 2025
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Lawrence often has this frisky, rabid grin that’s irresistible to watch but also scary.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playful. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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