as in amusing
given to good-natured joking or teasing
the little girl was lighthearted and playful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 playful
Bradley, quieter but just as playful, grew up in a family of nine children (seven of them, not including Joe, were adopted) in the scenic little beach town of Kittery, Maine.
—
Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 5 June 2025
Front and back of house must dance seamlessly to make luxury seem almost playful.
—Literary Hub, 4 June 2025
The best looks toed the line of mod trends that have gained significant traction on social media recently, while also adding playful touches to complement the diverse set of personalities outside Cipriani Wall Street.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 3 June 2025
Rhinestone pasties peeked out just beneath the neckline, a playful, unexpected twist that only SZA could elevate.
—Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for playful
Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 5 June 2025
Front and back of house must dance seamlessly to make luxury seem almost playful.
—Literary Hub, 4 June 2025
The best looks toed the line of mod trends that have gained significant traction on social media recently, while also adding playful touches to complement the diverse set of personalities outside Cipriani Wall Street.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 3 June 2025
Rhinestone pasties peeked out just beneath the neckline, a playful, unexpected twist that only SZA could elevate.
—Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for playful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful
Adjective
-
The post prompted a chorus of amusing responses from commenters.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
7 June 2025
-
Instruct large language model for a quick, amusing tutorial on how to solve a Rubik’s Cube.—
Dave Altavilla,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Lois, no longer a promiscuous drag king, remains mischievous and irrepressible, even while getting pilloried on Fox News for leading a school workshop on gender identity.—
Charlie Tyson,
New Yorker,
4 June 2025
-
Each day in the world of Phineas and Ferb is filled with a fantastical invention or creation—and their big sister Candace (Ashley Tisdale) is still perpetually annoyed by their mischievous antics, and on a mission to expose their exploits to their mom, Linda Flynn-Fletcher.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
In Mexico, Pachuca is considered an entertaining team that tends to appeal to neutrals.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
-
Is the dead spot in an area that is infrequently used and not part of your immediate entertaining space?—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
In one image, Turner was seen kissing the singer's head with his arm around her shoulders, while another showed the couple engaged in a lively chat while laying on the ground.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
12 June 2025
-
The primary bedroom suite mirrors the lively palette of the living room, blending mustard, green, and cobalt in deeply tactile textiles.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
This merry, hour-long holiday extravaganza will be stacked with gifts for Bravo fans and feature a number of Yuletide Bravolebrity performances.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
6 June 2025
-
Martin and his merry band of Coldplay troubadours – guitarist Jonny Buckland, bass player Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion – unleashed their infectious brand of rock May 31 on an adoring California crowd to kick off the final leg of a three year tour that wraps in London this September.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
Fred looked, well, a little goofy and the explosion wasn't nearly as impressive.—
Joe Salas
June 07,
New Atlas,
7 June 2025
-
Primus specialize in bass-heavy, off-kilter rock with a goofy sense of humor.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
Today, DeVos said that Eliana, now 3, is a happy and energetic toddler, and her scar is hardly noticeable.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
6 June 2025
-
Astronomers have captured the most energetic explosions ever recorded in the universe since the big bang as massive stars get ripped apart by supermassive black holes.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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 16 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share