as in amusing
given to good-natured joking or teasing
the little girl was lighthearted and playful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in mischief
a natural disposition for playful behavior
the playfulness of the kitten can be quite amusing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of playful
Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026
Add a little sparkle to your everyday style with playful, personalized jewelry designed to feel uniquely yours from Daniela Swaebe.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
The sleek style allowed the playfulness of Buckley’s pink-and-red Chanel ensemble to shine.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for playful
Adjective
Saturn in your companionable 7th house is encouraging Pluto in your playful 5th house, so the energy of these cosmic powerhouses should be a little less hard to handle and a lot more fun!
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026
Add a little sparkle to your everyday style with playful, personalized jewelry designed to feel uniquely yours from Daniela Swaebe.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
As an actor, Lena Maria approaches each role with curiosity, playfulness, and sincere commitment.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
The sleek style allowed the playfulness of Buckley’s pink-and-red Chanel ensemble to shine.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for playful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful
Adjective
-
The surviving Cheetos, while amusing to viewers, stand as an odd visual amid an otherwise devastating event.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
To some on Capitol Hill, the freewheeling is more frustrating than amusing.—
Steven Sloan,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The La Costa Canyon High School Theatre Department invites the community to an evening of laughter, music, and medieval mischief with this year’s spring musical Monty Python’s Spamalot.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
His old partner in mischief Charles Steinmuller floated somewhere between exciting and scary.—
Eric Boodman,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Ospreys – a mischievous bird of prey – have returned.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Labubu, the vinyl plush collectible with a snaggletoothed grin and knowingly mischievous eyes, has become a viral sensation and one of China’s fastest-rising exports.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Bruins have their signature comeback victory of this entertaining 2025-26 season.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Trump’s speech was at times entertaining, rambling, repetitive, and combative.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
30 Mar. 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
Adjective
-
Participants are able to create a schedule for themselves that supports more solo contemplative space or lively group experiences.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
-
South Elgin’s protest was just as lively.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Petrie, Doz and Morrow play multiple roles, including a gossipy Greek chorus and the band of merry fisherman (truly an astonishing array of Canadian accent work on display).—
Katie Walsh,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
-
These are the chapters that feature the merry trickster of the forest, Tom Bombadil, a classic fiddle-dee-dee-mischief type who waylays the hobbits at the onset of their quest.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But the proposal was full of cartoonishly goofy faux spy talk.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Whether this turns out to be a goofy bit of fluff or an actual examination of power dynamics in relationships is yet to be determined (though the trailer suggests the former).—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playful. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
