Synonyms of sportive

sportive

adjective

ˈspȯr-tiv 

as in playful

given to good-natured joking or teasing

a sportive pastor who began every sermon with a joke

Synonyms & Similar Words

• playful
• merry
• amusing
• lively
• entertaining
• sportful
• mischievous
• energetic
• antic
• frolicsome
• goofy
• frisky
• rollicking
• happy
• enjoyable
• delightful
• elfish
• larky
• coltish
• fun
• pleasing
• silly
• gay
• spirited
• whimsical
• lighthearted
• fay
• pleasant
• joking
• sprightly
• vivacious
• coy
• impish
• frolic
• spunky
• roguish
• pleasurable
• pixie
• frivolous
• jocund
• kittenish
• teasing
• devilish
• knavish
• jocose
• jocular
• trifling
• rascally
• pixy
• prankish
• diverting
• jesting
• dabbling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• earnest
• sober
• serious
• responsible
• dutiful
• solemn
• sombre
• stern
• serious-minded
• somber
• grim
• stolid
• grave
• proper
• formal
• decorous
• sobersided
• priggish
• sedate
• staid
• stuffy
• starchy
• restrained
• no-nonsense
• inhibited
• guarded

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sportive

Revel, too, in more sportive jaunts, such as volcano hiking, horseback-riding, zip-lining, rappelling down waterfalls, fishing and white-water river rafting. —Laura Manske, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023

The rarest is the Sahafary sportive lemur (Lepilemur septentrionalis), found in a tiny area in northern Madagascar. —Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2020

The remaining lineage split into the sportive lemurs (Lepilemuridae), and the dwarf and mouse lemurs (Cheirogaleidae; right). —Discover Magazine, 17 Mar. 2011

His actions impact the reputation of his colleagues, sportive results, and eventually can be damaging to our game. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 26 Sep. 2022