as in mischief
a natural disposition for playful behavior
the playfulness of the kitten can be quite amusing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of playfulness
The profile of this shoe is one that feels inherently familiar, but childlike playfulness is also secured vis-à-vis the fluffy sheepskin that seems to overflow from its color-happy laces.
—
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Perched at the top of the building, a triplex penthouse spanning more than 3,300 square feet—plus nearly 2,000 square feet of landscaped terraces—embodies Ban’s signature blend of precision and playfulness.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
As one of the few Black women in professional sports ownership, Rae approaches her role with both pride and playfulness.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025
To keep the process fair and consistent, every tester skied each model on the same day, in the same terrain, and rated it across nine performance categories, including versatility, stability, carving, and playfulness.
—Marina Knight, Outside, 17 Oct. 2025
These acts of radical playfulness—the inflatable dance parties, the music, the absurdity—have become part of the city’s moral vocabulary.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Byun’s visual playfulness is likewise compelling enough to compensate for the shortcuts in his storytelling — active camerawork and inventive CGI combine with Jo Hyoung-rae’s heightened cinematography to imbue the film’s airplane cabins and flight control towers with a vivid sense of theatricality.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
There is a lot of joy, playfulness and tenderness between the characters.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
The heart of Marion, that mix of sophistication, playfulness, and connection, will always remain.
—Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Perched at the top of the building, a triplex penthouse spanning more than 3,300 square feet—plus nearly 2,000 square feet of landscaped terraces—embodies Ban’s signature blend of precision and playfulness.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
As one of the few Black women in professional sports ownership, Rae approaches her role with both pride and playfulness.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025
To keep the process fair and consistent, every tester skied each model on the same day, in the same terrain, and rated it across nine performance categories, including versatility, stability, carving, and playfulness.
—Marina Knight, Outside, 17 Oct. 2025
These acts of radical playfulness—the inflatable dance parties, the music, the absurdity—have become part of the city’s moral vocabulary.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Byun’s visual playfulness is likewise compelling enough to compensate for the shortcuts in his storytelling — active camerawork and inventive CGI combine with Jo Hyoung-rae’s heightened cinematography to imbue the film’s airplane cabins and flight control towers with a vivid sense of theatricality.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
There is a lot of joy, playfulness and tenderness between the characters.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
The heart of Marion, that mix of sophistication, playfulness, and connection, will always remain.
—Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playfulness
Noun
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The electric version starts the same, but that plaintive wail sounds more like a call to mischief.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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When a mysterious prankster befalls the town of Middlesburg, 13-year-old Frances McCausland (Erin Chambers) gets blamed for the mischief.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Social media users can’t get enough of Chico’s antics, as many lauded his mischievousness.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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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 28 Oct. 2025.
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