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
Other playful jeering is fair game, including when a winner selects the next ticket and ends up drawing his own numbers twice more in a row.
—
Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The film included Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands (seen on model Anok Yai) and Alice in Wonderland (worn by actor Kodi Smit-McPhee)—so there’s something playful about it all, too.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2025
Love Island is light-hearted and playful in many ways, but The Traitors pushes you into a space where every move matters.
—Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Jordan was a playful, fun and cheeky kid who was protective of his sisters, mother and friends.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playful
Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The film included Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands (seen on model Anok Yai) and Alice in Wonderland (worn by actor Kodi Smit-McPhee)—so there’s something playful about it all, too.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2025
Love Island is light-hearted and playful in many ways, but The Traitors pushes you into a space where every move matters.
—Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Jordan was a playful, fun and cheeky kid who was protective of his sisters, mother and friends.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful
Adjective
-
Riccoboni doesn’t take himself too seriously, admitting that his science-fiction picture book serves up otherworldly tales that some might find only mildly amusing.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The film tells a quietly amusing story that offers a more-than-realistic dive into one of the most iconic and thoughtful young men in world history – a man who essentially invented modern angst long before the internet existed.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Clearly, Rascal lived up to his mischievous name by finding the well in the first place.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Mykal-Michelle Harris from Raven’s Home guest-stars as Ruby, a mischievous moon imp who tricks Vee.—
Allison McClain Merrill,
Parents,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Indiana has a long history of marching bands entertaining crowds — not just at halftime, but to stadiums full of fans.—
Jenny Porter Tilley,
IndyStar,
3 Nov. 2025
-
These humans are very entertaining.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The question of how to manage Indiana's forests sparks some of the livelier and more contentious debates among local environmentalists.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
29 Oct. 2025
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Inside a converted warehouse (complete with an outdoor patio), the lively, family-friendly taproom serves creative small-batch brews, drawing a steady mix of locals and visitors.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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To usher in the return of all things merry and bright, Dunkin' is integrating a handful of new items to its holiday menu.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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Merry Moments Festive Platter May your holidays be merry and your platters be on-theme!—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As Buffy’s bafoonish brother, Dave Sheridan played an unlikely killer (though Doofy ends up being far less goofy than originally expected).—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
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The accompanying video, directed by Charlotte Rutherford, fittingly harkens back to videos of the same era, as Puth embarks on a goofy adventure through a pre-digital world filled with charming claymation figurines and old-school stop motion effects.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The zebras pranced, all frisky energy; the elephants, lumbering and mournful, trailed behind with their ancient thoughts.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 Oct. 2025
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Along the way, though, Dylan’s transformation from frisky, plucky folk upstart — a walking, talking, cap-wearing version of the Anthology of Folk Music collection everyone was discovering at the time — to master of his domain is heard in large and small ways.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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With the right team in place, sessions feel warm, energetic, and inviting.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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Williams went viral for his energetic behavior on the sideline during the game.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playful. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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