as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
told the prankish lad that someone would eventually get hurt if he kept it up
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Recent Examples of prankish
And then there’s Whitehead’s own work: erudite, prankish, experimental in a literal sense—the act of listening is sometimes the experiment.
—
Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
And within the prankish world created by the production, not everyone was in on the joke.
—David Renard, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Fuchs put a prankish spin on the descending octaves that tootle above the reprise of the symphony’s solemn opening.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
While Gandhi begins his pursuit with a largely prankish approach, his film (and the gimmick anchoring it) surprisingly illuminates what some people gain from becoming part of a communal family.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 31 July 2024
The movie alternates between prankish laughs and visual poetry.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
And within the prankish world created by the production, not everyone was in on the joke.
—David Renard, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Fuchs put a prankish spin on the descending octaves that tootle above the reprise of the symphony’s solemn opening.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
While Gandhi begins his pursuit with a largely prankish approach, his film (and the gimmick anchoring it) surprisingly illuminates what some people gain from becoming part of a communal family.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 31 July 2024
The movie alternates between prankish laughs and visual poetry.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prankish
Adjective
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Also, according to ancient Norse lore, evil and turmoil were brought to the world by the mischievous god Loki, the 13th guest at a dinner party in Valhalla.—
Bailey Allen,
Cape Cod Times,
13 Feb. 2026
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Sabate donned his yellow-and-blue costume and brought the mischievous spirit of the Minions to Milan in the men's short program Tuesday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The hard fact is that genius isn’t reserved for the worthy any more than misfortune is reserved for the wicked.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Their climax came on June 9, when McCarthy was bested by Joseph Welch, the Army’s chief counsel and a man possessed of a laser-sharp legal mind and a wicked sense of humor.—
Kristen Monroe,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The bittersweet musical numbers lend all the characters — even the comic-relief ones — some modicum of humanity, and Latif’s playful visual style enhances the ironic elements of the tale.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
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In one image, she’s seated at a table with a cheeseburger on a golden platter, flanked by miniature American and Puerto Rican flags — a playful nod to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prankish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prankish. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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