as in friskily
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Recent Examples of playfully
Director Lisa Peterson has beautifully and playfully enhanced Shear’s storytelling with wonderful moments of humor, whimsy and romance.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
The verdict Regent Hong Kong is like the coolest art gallery, sexiest nightclub and most elegant private members establishment all rolled into one playfully luxurious space.
—Ann Lee, TheWeek, 16 Feb. 2026
But the composer also makes great use of the saxophone, which playfully dances through melodies that transport the viewer back to the swinging '60s and evokes the spirit of Henry Mancini.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Ilia Malinin playfully threw a couple of jabs at a TV camera while skating off the ice Tuesday night, the pressure of his first Olympics having seemingly vanished after a team gold medal and a near-perfect short program to begin the men’s competition.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
When snowflakes began to fall, some stuck their tongues out and laughed, playfully nudging one another.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Addressing people in the crowd from the stage, Chalamet playfully called out the Paris venue for charging attendees overpriced tickets to attend the premiere of the A24 movie.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Well, the girls invent time machines to travel to the past and question their realities, playfully dealing with such complex issues as gender differences, alcoholism, and religion.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Later in the season, after the Bridgerton sons playfully throw shaving foam at each other, a maid is shown scrubbing the floor, the furniture, and the walls, their fun and folly now her toil.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
The verdict Regent Hong Kong is like the coolest art gallery, sexiest nightclub and most elegant private members establishment all rolled into one playfully luxurious space.
—Ann Lee, TheWeek, 16 Feb. 2026
But the composer also makes great use of the saxophone, which playfully dances through melodies that transport the viewer back to the swinging '60s and evokes the spirit of Henry Mancini.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Ilia Malinin playfully threw a couple of jabs at a TV camera while skating off the ice Tuesday night, the pressure of his first Olympics having seemingly vanished after a team gold medal and a near-perfect short program to begin the men’s competition.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
When snowflakes began to fall, some stuck their tongues out and laughed, playfully nudging one another.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Addressing people in the crowd from the stage, Chalamet playfully called out the Paris venue for charging attendees overpriced tickets to attend the premiere of the A24 movie.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Well, the girls invent time machines to travel to the past and question their realities, playfully dealing with such complex issues as gender differences, alcoholism, and religion.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Later in the season, after the Bridgerton sons playfully throw shaving foam at each other, a maid is shown scrubbing the floor, the furniture, and the walls, their fun and folly now her toil.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playfully
Adverb
-
Mangione wore beige prison clothing to the hearing and spoke animatedly with his defense team.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026
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During the ceremony, Barron was seen smiling and clapping alongside Elon Musk, animatedly talking with Jeff Bezos and greeting outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
But those viewers may not know that Impacciatore is also an accomplished dancer who energetically led the Opening Ceremony audience through a brief history of the Winter Olympics, as the chillier Games are celebrating their 100th year.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
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Think stark pastel tableaux by cinematographer Pasit Tandaechanurat and human performers who act about as energetically as furniture.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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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
-
As in years past, the luncheon also came with a bit of gentle coaching about what to do — and not to do — should one’s name be called on Oscar night, including moving briskly to the stage, keeping remarks to no more than 45 seconds and not leaning into the microphone.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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The report puts a downbeat end to an otherwise solid year for shopping activity, with higher-end consumers spending briskly through much of 2025, though those on the lower end of the income spectrum were more cautious.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The horse, not sensing any guidance on its ribcage, begins to move skittishly in tight, concentric circles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
-
While skittishly edited, the film nevertheless builds up Faithfull’s biography in basic chronological order.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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The neighborhoods of Alfama and Bairro Alto stay lively late into the night with fado music, good wine, and shared plates.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Dec. 2025
-
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
Adverb
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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
Adverb
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The 33-year-old Al Nassr forward shot crisply into the bottom corner, past a wrong-footed Mohamed El-Shenawy in the Egypt goal.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
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Lightfoot’s vocals were added later, as his crisply enunciated singing, vivid lyrics and Irish-style folk melody sold the storytelling.—
Brian McCollum,
Freep.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Playfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playfully. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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