as in gayly
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Recent Examples of playfully
Leakey playfully dubbed them The Trimates.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
With Austin Reaves shooing Hachimura off-stage and playfully wrestling the mic away.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
The actor who played the lovably histrionic Cameron Tucker on the ABC sitcom playfully flipped out over his onscreen husband, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, posting a picture from a series mini-reunion on Monday.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025
Straka laughed and playfully reached his hand back out.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Miss Sammie flashed the scolding look Jean had known since childhood, though playfully now.
—David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
In the photo, the two could be seen holding up a plate of food and a glass of wine, as Ballerini playfully takes a bite.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Behind the camera, Hopinka entwines himself into the narrative, playfully acknowledging his own positionality as a pow wow person while inviting viewers to share in the personal connections that define the event.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025
Merritt playfully poked fun at safety Bryan Cook, who nearly had an interception.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
With Austin Reaves shooing Hachimura off-stage and playfully wrestling the mic away.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
The actor who played the lovably histrionic Cameron Tucker on the ABC sitcom playfully flipped out over his onscreen husband, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, posting a picture from a series mini-reunion on Monday.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025
Straka laughed and playfully reached his hand back out.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Miss Sammie flashed the scolding look Jean had known since childhood, though playfully now.
—David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
In the photo, the two could be seen holding up a plate of food and a glass of wine, as Ballerini playfully takes a bite.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Behind the camera, Hopinka entwines himself into the narrative, playfully acknowledging his own positionality as a pow wow person while inviting viewers to share in the personal connections that define the event.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025
Merritt playfully poked fun at safety Bryan Cook, who nearly had an interception.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playfully
Adverb
-
Together, the princess and the first lady greeted Dwayne Fields, chief scout, and could be seen chatting animatedly to him.—
Isaac Bickerstaff,
Glamour,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Usher and his wife, Jennifer Raymond, were seated next to the Jonases, with both singer husbands talking animatedly.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Small and mid-sized countries that were energetically pursuing Security Council reform have backed off and are waiting for a clear signal of what—if anything—Trump will say about it.—
Richard Gowan,
Time,
22 Sep. 2025
-
That means that those kids had likely been playing energetically and enjoying their toddler life just before getting sick.—
Pia Pannaraj,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The song's interplay between choir and orchestra is buoyantly euphoric, opening a door to bolder, more intentionally progressive and soulful sounds in the country's mainstream.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
2 May 2025
Adverb
-
The Giants briskly filled that need by signing the top free-agent shortstop on the market to a seven-year, $182 million contract.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Add ice and stir briskly for 10 seconds (if using small ice) to 25 seconds (if using big ice).—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
27 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
While skittishly edited, the film nevertheless builds up Faithfull’s biography in basic chronological order.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
His disdain for Christmas is no match for visits from enchanting ghosts, a lively ensemble of characters, and the music of the season.—
Kirby Adams,
Louisville Courier Journal,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Music comes through with clean highs and enough bass to keep things lively at everyday listening levels.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Then again, maybe $1,000 just rolls trippingly off the tongue and into Trump’s good graces.—
Stephen Gandel,
The Seattle Times,
3 Feb. 2018
-
One man, whose arrogance and ego lead him trippingly into chaos of his own making, can turn a shining city on the hill into a shadowy, taudry replica of itself. …—
James Hohmann,
Washington Post,
14 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Playfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playfully. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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