as in playfully
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for sportively
Adverb
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During the exchange, Lindo, 73, playfully shoved Jordan, 39, who was seated in front of him.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
1 Mar. 2026 -
The returning favorite—which was playfully announced online in a nod to social outrage—features two crispy Original Recipe Tenders wrapped in a tortilla with lettuce, tomato, and Pepper Mayo.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Mangione wore beige prison clothing to the hearing and spoke animatedly with his defense team.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026
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During the ceremony, Barron was seen smiling and clapping alongside Elon Musk, animatedly talking with Jeff Bezos and greeting outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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The song's interplay between choir and orchestra is buoyantly euphoric, opening a door to bolder, more intentionally progressive and soulful sounds in the country's mainstream.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
2 May 2025
Adverb
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Then again, maybe $1,000 just rolls trippingly off the tongue and into Trump’s good graces.—
Stephen Gandel,
The Seattle Times,
3 Feb. 2018
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One man, whose arrogance and ego lead him trippingly into chaos of his own making, can turn a shining city on the hill into a shadowy, taudry replica of itself. …—
James Hohmann,
Washington Post,
14 July 2017
Adverb
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The horse, not sensing any guidance on its ribcage, begins to move skittishly in tight, concentric circles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
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While skittishly edited, the film nevertheless builds up Faithfull’s biography in basic chronological order.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Young hunters can also expect pennies, treats and other surprises along the route—enough to keep the afternoon lively.—
Debby Rice,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
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Close to lively Lower Greenville in the coveted M Streets neighborhood, a five-bedroom modern design awaits at 6215 Llano Ave.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Director Jessica Stone has given the show a briskly engaging pace that slows enough to let its deepest emotions resonate.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
25 Feb. 2026
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More than a dozen such Upper East Side projects done in this manner have sold briskly over the last decade — Beckford Tower, 109 East 79th Street, the Chatham.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
25 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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But those viewers may not know that Impacciatore is also an accomplished dancer who energetically led the Opening Ceremony audience through a brief history of the Winter Olympics, as the chillier Games are celebrating their 100th year.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
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Think stark pastel tableaux by cinematographer Pasit Tandaechanurat and human performers who act about as energetically as furniture.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Sportively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sportively. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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