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
Mercury enters Gemini in your 5th House of Creativity, bringing fresh language, playful ideas, and more courage around self expression.
—
Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
The style is also available in a vibrant red, classic black, subtle ivory, and playful pale blue.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Nutmeg is the secret ingredient that makes this playful Bundt taste just like a cake doughnut.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 17 May 2026
Instead of filling my suitcase with bulky sneakers, sky-high heels, and overly sporty athleisure, Sisto recommended chic staples like linen pants, comfortable sandals, breezy matching sets, and playful pops of color.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for playful
Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
The style is also available in a vibrant red, classic black, subtle ivory, and playful pale blue.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Nutmeg is the secret ingredient that makes this playful Bundt taste just like a cake doughnut.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 17 May 2026
Instead of filling my suitcase with bulky sneakers, sky-high heels, and overly sporty athleisure, Sisto recommended chic staples like linen pants, comfortable sandals, breezy matching sets, and playful pops of color.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for playful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful
Adjective
-
There’s a tension between the update’s good intentions and the tendency of musical comedy to traffic in amusing caricatures.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
-
Providing the voice of one of the many alien characters is Martin Scorsese, who has some amusing moments with his typically rapid-fire delivery as a nervous street food vendor whom Djarin pumps for information.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Like tapping into that mischievous kid in me.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
-
There on the screen, staring back at me, are two gigantic black eyes and a mischievous smile stitched on a massive, crocheted head — features of the mysterious, endlessly cheeky mask that has become Chuyin’s signature.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Sports are supposed to be entertaining.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
The two had an emotional embrace after the fight, which was far more entertaining than the fight itself.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
The lively restaurant, a tribute to British photographer and tastemaker Cecil Beaton, strikes a delicate balance between elegance and whimsy.—
Julie Tremaine,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
-
Created by Liz Heldens (Will Trent) and Matt Ward (Best Medicine), and set to kick off production in Los Angeles this year, the new series follows Heidi (Banks), who while fresh off a messy divorce, sets out to secure a lively second act for herself and her kids.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The picture’s eclectic cast, which included Anouk Aimée, Greta Scacchi and Maximilian Schell (with cameos by Faye Dunaway, Holly Hunter and Jeff Goldblum), swirled its merry way across the grand event in search of romance, fame and the ever-elusive movie deal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
But in the cycling ecosystem, the Rockets are still minnows, a bunch of merry men with a camera — up against teams funded by international business conglomerates and nation states.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
The goofy quest is a Reply All trope; the pair once travelled to the Middle East to track down a hacker who tried to take over their personal computers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Where Iain was tart, Hoffman was goofy and glib, using the jokey pitch modulations of a fake talk-show host to let viewers know that the Islanders’ doings were ridiculous.—
Anna Peele,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
In one scene, Little Death lays outrageously bloody waste to the frisky incoming counselors of Camp Miasma (played by Zach Cherry, Quintessa Swindell, and Eva Victor, among others) in a long take set to a needle drop that shouldn’t be spoiled but that adds up to something worthy of blissing out to.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
-
Suppler than Tom Paxton’s original; not as frisky as Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton’s cover.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Little Caesars Arena was as energetic as its been all season, and Detroit didn’t deliver, sending Pistons fans for an early exit.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
For a night out, head to local landmark Pam Pam, a fish-out-of-water Brazilian bar with tiki drinks, dance shows, live music, and an energetic atmosphere.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playful. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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