PLAYFUL Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

playful

adjective

ˈplā-fəl

Definition of playful

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 The brand’s later expansion into playful face and body crayons has received a more positive response. — Faye Brookman, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026 Mythical Creatures, designed by Kit Kemp of London’s Firmdale Hotels, is a playful take on fine bone china that comes decorated with folk-art birds and beasts, then finished with a gold rim Kemp customizes herself. — Angela Tafoya, Architectural Digest, 21 Aug. 2026 Six chandelier lights bounce light off the flowers, casting a playful, charming glow, making this light perfect for a dining room. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026 The Vimpunec Open-Front Coatigan is a playful transitional option for autumn days when a jacket is too heavy and a sweater is too light to keep you warm. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for playful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful

Adjective

American style can be at turns confounding, amusing, and aspirational.

— Luis Alberto Rodriguez, Vanity Fair, 20 Aug. 2026
Morgan Stanley’s Lisa Shalett and her team produced this amusing chart showing year-over-year percentage growth in tech capex, compared with the same for the dotcom bubble era.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of amusing

Adjective

For the kooky, mischievous and not-often-sober Shifty Gruff, Sheen was always the number one choice.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
As mischievous, myth-making Grandpa Walton, Will Geer endeared viewers with his warm and relatable approach to the character.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of mischievous

Adjective

In addition to 84 feet of ocean-bluff frontage, the grounds hold the aforementioned courtyard lap pool and lily pond, along with a large grassy lawn ideal for entertaining, a viewing pergola, and a motor court with room for up to a dozen cars.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 2026
Everyone deserves equal access to info in entertaining events just like State Fair.

— Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of entertaining

Adjective

Back at the hotel, rotating art, live performances, wellness programming, and seasonal events keep things lively.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
People have flocked there from California, Washington and Oregon, taking advantage of Boise's lower cost of living, relatively mild winters, and lively outdoor scene.

— CJ Haddad,Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of lively

Adjective

Rounding up his merry men of Sherwood Forest, and his Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland), Robin goes about resisting John’s rule and securing Richard’s throne.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Fortune’s intrepid tech editor, Alexei Oreskovic, and his merry band of reporters will carry on in my absence.

— Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of merry

Adjective

Mason was funny, goofy and crazy in all the right ways; he will be remembered for singing and dancing around the house with a wide smile on his face and a skip in his step.

— Matt Schooley, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
If the movie is more goofy than profound, that may be the point.

— Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of goofy

Adjective

The Black Crowes broke out with a frisky cover of this Otis Redding tune just as hair metal was giving way to grunge.

— Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
The biggest question for those debating whether to see this frisky and original rom-com starring San Francisco native Monica Barbaro and British of-the-moment actor Callum Turner might well be its preposterous premise.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of frisky

Adjective

Both bands, originating from the Chicagoland area, delivered energetic sets to an enthusiastic crowd.

— Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The gregarious and media-savvy Hilton has been waging an energetic and effervescent run for governor, with multiple appearances a day and frequent updates to his cheeky social media accounts.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of energetic

Browse Nearby Words

playfellows

playful

playfully

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playful. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of playful

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

devolve

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes