as in playful
given to good-natured joking or teasing
a sportive pastor who began every sermon with a joke
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Recent Examples of sportive
In 2018, Brooke Eby, a sportive goofball with strawberry-blond hair, started to feel as though her left foot couldn’t keep up.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 June 2023
That was true even in extremely endangered ones such as the northern sportive lemur (Lepilemur septentrionalis) of which only 40 are known to exist, all within 12 square kilometers of Madagascar.
—Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 1 June 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for sportive
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 June 2023
That was true even in extremely endangered ones such as the northern sportive lemur (Lepilemur septentrionalis) of which only 40 are known to exist, all within 12 square kilometers of Madagascar.
—Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 1 June 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for sportive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sportive
playful
Adjective
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Like sparkling citrus that feels like late-summer light, warm vanilla and orchard tones for autumn’s cozy neutrals, and playful gourmand notes that give glossy, indulgent energy.—
Allure Editors,
Allure,
10 Sep. 2025
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Known for vibrant color, upcycled materials, and a playful yet political spirit, his work captures the joy and resilience of migration stories.—
Karissa Mitchell,
Essence,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sportive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sportive. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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