as in gayly
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Recent Examples of playfully
Likewise, reflect on a series of twelve portraits in which three young white men, Matsura, and his friend Cecil Jim (niece of the imposing Chiliwhist Jim) assume different pairings and playfully switch hats.
—
Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Listeners don’t have to understand Spanish in order to feel the passion by McFly, who playfully strums her guitar.
—David J. Bohnet, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The drummer playfully taps out a beat to match the roaring engine.
—Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
The two playfully go at it with bright yellow swords made of balloons.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Amid the celebrations, Elliott playfully shoved Ngumoha towards the away supporters, encouraging the then-16-year-old to savour becoming the youngest goal scorer in the club’s history.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
After Beck completed 12 consecutive passes at one point during Miami’s upset win over Notre Dame last week, Bobo texted Beck playfully that Beck won’t break that mark.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
John Early 1 hour 38 minutes John Early’s goofy yet poignant directorial debut Maddie’s Secret is like a Lifetime movie made by Comedy Central, marrying a dramatic premise with playfully absurd twists.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Carey took a moment during her speech to playfully call MTV out for the delay.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Listeners don’t have to understand Spanish in order to feel the passion by McFly, who playfully strums her guitar.
—David J. Bohnet, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The drummer playfully taps out a beat to match the roaring engine.
—Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
The two playfully go at it with bright yellow swords made of balloons.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Amid the celebrations, Elliott playfully shoved Ngumoha towards the away supporters, encouraging the then-16-year-old to savour becoming the youngest goal scorer in the club’s history.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
After Beck completed 12 consecutive passes at one point during Miami’s upset win over Notre Dame last week, Bobo texted Beck playfully that Beck won’t break that mark.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
John Early 1 hour 38 minutes John Early’s goofy yet poignant directorial debut Maddie’s Secret is like a Lifetime movie made by Comedy Central, marrying a dramatic premise with playfully absurd twists.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Carey took a moment during her speech to playfully call MTV out for the delay.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playfully
Adverb
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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
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The two animatedly discuss the issue, veering off topic at times into snake-hunting and a plot point from a Spider-Man film.—
Tyler Kingkade,
NBC news,
28 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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As a public institution, UVU upholds First Amendment rights and fosters an environment where ideas – popular or controversial – can be exchanged freely, energetically, and civilly.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
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This is because there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to forage and digest raw foods sufficient to support brains as energetically expensive as our own, contra many a modern paleo-diet guru.—
Peter Brannen,
Big Think,
28 Aug. 2025
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
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Financial details remain undisclosed, but international presales moved briskly at film markets over the past year, suggesting Yeon and his collaborators have likely already made a tidy return.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
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By that yardstick, this clearance moved briskly.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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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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Expect this one to get lively quick.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
10 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
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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 18 Sep. 2025.
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