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
The beige and off-white rug features a herringbone pattern with a playful twist for a contemporary look, contrasting the plain white walls and large solid surfaces.
—
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Oct. 2025
Here are a few playful charcuterie board games to get your autumn party started by rolling the dice with some sweet, savory, salty, spicy, and umami seasonal delights.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
Boxers are also known for their playful, sometimes goofy demeanor and strong attachment to their owners.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The winning Bourbon Caramel Iced Coffee was the brainchild of a social media strategist, Bianca Fernandez, and won hearts thanks to its bold flavor and playful take on the classic iced coffee.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playful
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Oct. 2025
Here are a few playful charcuterie board games to get your autumn party started by rolling the dice with some sweet, savory, salty, spicy, and umami seasonal delights.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
Boxers are also known for their playful, sometimes goofy demeanor and strong attachment to their owners.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The winning Bourbon Caramel Iced Coffee was the brainchild of a social media strategist, Bianca Fernandez, and won hearts thanks to its bold flavor and playful take on the classic iced coffee.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful
Adjective
-
Judging by the amusing premiere episode, there is some potential to the motley crew of this government service.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
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The other twist is that Noelle is addicted to a podcast (performed by Adwa Alasiri) that dishes out both true crime stories and helpful makeup tips, an amusing combination of gloss and gore.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Orsoni has salt-and-pepper hair and an exaggerated, slightly mischievous energy.—
Aislyn Greene,
AFAR Media,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The trailer hints at a lavish production, with Sharpe playing a mischievous Mozart, bounding through a stately home and jumping to reach a chandelier.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
During their coffee chat, moderated by Broma Bakery founder, Sarah Fennel, the two discussed their debut cookbook, Party People, and all of their top entertaining advice.—
Halee Miller Van Ryswyk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Photo booth There is a reason why photo booths complete with entertaining props and various backdrops are so popular.—
Metro Creative Services,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But Missoula, Livingston and Bozeman have lively literary scenes.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Expect lively notes of lemon zest, grapefruit, and green apple, anchored by a soft minerality that adds depth without overpowering.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In the weeks that followed, the secretary also removed every member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine advisory committee, replacing them with a merry band of loyalists and skeptics.—
Eli Cahan,
Rolling Stone,
16 Oct. 2025
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Instead of treats, this calendar is packed with a mix of exciting goodies like plush toys, kicker toys, balls and popular stimulants like catnip and silvervine to keep your kitty playful and merry.—
Christine Persaud,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
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Simpson has been sharp ever since that Week 1 loss at Florida State, which now looks even goofier.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Barley the energetic pup has spent nearly 300 days waiting for a second chance in Florida.—
Simone Jasper,
Miami Herald,
20 Oct. 2025
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The energetic Fleck has taken Minnesota to a bowl game in every non-COVID season after his first year and posted a top-10 finish in 2019.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Raheem Morris’ team looks pretty frisky.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
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The looks basked in frisky gay revelry.—
Ludwig Hurtado,
Them.,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playful. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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