as in mischief
a natural disposition for playful behavior
the playfulness of the kitten can be quite amusing
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Recent Examples of playfulness
Despite Goldstein living out his fantasy and their playfulness throughout the press tour so far, Lopez shut down dating rumors directly when she and Goldstein were asked by Savannah Guthrie on Today.
—
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 2 June 2026
The portrait that has emerged from these instances is one of playfulness, but also intentionality.
—Krysta Fauria, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Andre Heimos and Allen Lucky Weaver bring playfulness to the love story of Tom Collins and Angel Schunard.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Too often, the book can feel like intellectual over-performance, without the conversational tone or playfulness of the original Kolloquium.
—Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
That playfulness extended to the other guests, too.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
There’s a playfulness, there’s a twinkle in the eye, there’s a sort of tongue in the cheek to that sort of tradition.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
In an era where trust in leadership is at an all-time low, playfulness is a competitive advantage.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
The interiors are modern, elegant, and sophisticated, yet with our artwork thoughtfully placed, there’s a sense of playfulness and a touch of whimsy throughout.
—Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 9 May 2026
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 2 June 2026
The portrait that has emerged from these instances is one of playfulness, but also intentionality.
—Krysta Fauria, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Andre Heimos and Allen Lucky Weaver bring playfulness to the love story of Tom Collins and Angel Schunard.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Too often, the book can feel like intellectual over-performance, without the conversational tone or playfulness of the original Kolloquium.
—Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
That playfulness extended to the other guests, too.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
There’s a playfulness, there’s a twinkle in the eye, there’s a sort of tongue in the cheek to that sort of tradition.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
In an era where trust in leadership is at an all-time low, playfulness is a competitive advantage.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
The interiors are modern, elegant, and sophisticated, yet with our artwork thoughtfully placed, there’s a sense of playfulness and a touch of whimsy throughout.
—Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playfulness
Noun
-
Court records show Varley was ultimately charged with criminal mischief and two counts of battery.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2026
-
The magic and mischief of Maradona The quality of Diego Maradona’s overall performance at the 1986 World Cup remains without parallel in the competition’s history.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
Social media users can’t get enough of Chico’s antics, as many lauded his mischievousness.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Soon, the America’s Got Talent stage descended into pure chaos, with Cowell and Mandel showcasing their innate mischievousness before the latter turned his attention toward his fellow judges.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Playfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playfulness. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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