playful

adjective

ˈplā-fəl How to pronounce playful (audio)
Definition of playfulnext
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 In the next slide, the lovebirds posed for a selfie together as Culkin looks at Song with a playful smile on his face. — Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 The name refers to a male coming-of-age ritual, but the analog methods the duo used, in part, suggest a return to something past and playful, perhaps childlike—though the music shows maturation overall. — Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026 Maine coons have become popular for their playful, sociable reputation, distinctive chirps and trills and their deep roots in New England history. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026 During this time, Wareheim — who played the epicurean Arnold opposite his real-life foodie friend Aziz Ansari on Netflix’s Master of None — also became a best-selling cookbook author with the playful Foodheim. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for playful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful
  1. amusing
  2. mischievous
  3. entertaining
  4. lively
  5. merry
  6. goofy
  7. frisky
  8. energetic
Adjective
  • Sure, the Wah-Wah on-off throttle pedal can be amusing for a short while.
    — Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • This breed is a high-energy dog that's rascally, amusing and certainly vocal.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 28 July 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
  • Art fairs, collectors’ homes, artists’ studios, galas… The film is a welcoming and entertaining dive amongst the 1% and explores the complicated relationship between artists and commerce.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • As part of our month-long Fall Reset, today's focus is all about Halloween and fall entertaining.
    — Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of entertaining
Adjective
  • The sightlines are good and the atmosphere lively, confirming the potential of Plymouth, the biggest city in the country never to have hosted a top-flight football club.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Shipley-Welter remembers when the town was more lively, with open storefronts and a nearby grocery store.
    — Julianna Mejia August 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of lively
Adjective
  • 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
  • Last year, which marked the first holiday season for Epic Universe, merry decor was concentrated in its Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic and Celestial Park sections.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of merry
Adjective
  • If the movie is more goofy than profound, that may be the point.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Haaland was one of the top scorers and most charismatic players at the World Cup held in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and his imposing stature and goofy sense of humor sparked a wave of creative viral videos and memes.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 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
  • Manzambi is seen as dynamic, energetic, a strong ball-carrier and importantly, versatile.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Thanksgiving always has produced an interesting dynamic with five tall, energetic kids circling for a turkey leg.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of energetic

Browse Nearby Words

playfellows
playful
playfully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playful. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on playful

Nglish: Translation of playful for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All