as in amusing
given to good-natured joking or teasing
the little girl was lighthearted and playful
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of playful
The brand has everything from flowy, floral dresses to garments with playful patterns and textures.
—
Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 22 June 2026
Summer is the perfect time to experiment with vibrant colors, playful textures, and eye-catching designs that make a statement without the extra length.
—Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 22 June 2026
Ultimately, the Cyber-G Pocket is a playful, tech-forward icebreaker rather than a replacement for a piano or digital audio workstation.
—New Atlas, 21 June 2026
Which means maybe the conservatives cheering on Warsh today for knowing what’s obvious should be the individuals receiving playful pats on the head.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for playful
Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 22 June 2026
Summer is the perfect time to experiment with vibrant colors, playful textures, and eye-catching designs that make a statement without the extra length.
—Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 22 June 2026
Ultimately, the Cyber-G Pocket is a playful, tech-forward icebreaker rather than a replacement for a piano or digital audio workstation.
—New Atlas, 21 June 2026
Which means maybe the conservatives cheering on Warsh today for knowing what’s obvious should be the individuals receiving playful pats on the head.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for playful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful
Adjective
-
This is amusing but understandable; in an era where commodity fetishism has turned analog, low-budget cinema into something aspirational, Jenkin has made no compromises for accessibility.—
Sam Bodrojan,
IndieWire,
17 June 2026
-
Regal bontebok were replaced by stout warthogs, whose amusing visages quickly filled my camera roll.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
In House of the Dragon’s season 2 premiere, Aegon II brought him to a meeting where Jaehaerys II was mischievous and bored.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
-
The show features a wide cast of colorful characters, namely Ginger’s mother Lois (Laraine Newman), her quirky friends Dodie (Aspen Vincent) and Macie (Jackie Harris Greenberg), and her mischievous little brother Carl (Jeannie Elias).—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
The porch is spacious enough to add extra living or entertaining space, and with stainless-steel construction, the structure is sturdy and weather-ready.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
22 June 2026
-
The floor plan opens up at the rear of the home to provide ample space for entertaining or daily living.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
Similarly, the lively Doyles Irish Pub serves classic pub fare such as wings, a Reuben sandwich, and fish and chips.—
Kristine Hansen,
Travel + Leisure,
22 June 2026
-
In the evening, Banff’s newest late-night spot, The Dusty Boot Saloon, channels cowboy country motifs through nostalgic saloon energy and a lively dance hall, stage for live music and hidden lounges.—
Kristin Braswell,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
Our leads will be abandoning the mean streets of New York City for merry old London.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
-
Starr and his band of merry men would deliver a 100-minute-plus show that was filled with 22 great tunes that most everyone in the house knew by heart.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Alongside Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley and his best friend, Shaggy Rogers, Scooby spent decades unmasking supposedly supernatural villains while winning over generations of fans with his goofy charm, insatiable appetite and signature catchphrases.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
-
All well and good—even if the log-line here may remind some of you of this goofy scene from the Sex and the City movie.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Nilsson’s depiction of bodies past their prime conjures not the pitiless naturalism of Joan Semmel or Alice Neel, but something friskier, more delighted.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Personalized treatments are built around three pillars—energetic renewal, conscious longevity, and stress management—and integrated with the landscape and architecture of the property and the regional cuisine.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
21 June 2026
-
Space hurricanes occur in the Earth’s ionosphere and magnetosphere near the magnetic poles, where streams of energetic particles interact with the atmosphere.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playful. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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