sportively

adverb

as in playfully

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sportively
  1. playfully
  2. animatedly
  3. buoyantly
  4. airily
  5. skittishly
  6. lively
  7. briskly
  8. energetically
Adverb
  • In 2019, the family of Joe Heller (not that one) playfully celebrated his life in the Hartford Courant.
    — Sam Roberts, Longreads, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel, who had been on the Team USA coaching staff when Crow-Armstrong played in the World Baseball Classic, playfully gave him a hard time about not being in center field for every game.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of playfully
Adverb
  • By the end of our call, Michael Sheen is animatedly sharing stories of his family’s (potential) UFO sightings in south Wales.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Threading through the film is Sienkiewicz’s own voice animatedly discussing his process and approach.
    — Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of animatedly
Adverb
  • 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
Definition of buoyantly
Adverb
  • Still, while these surfaces are clearly meant to reflect deeper emotional and cultural truths, Coppola’s mining of them is done glancingly, airily.
    — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of airily
Adverb
  • The horse, not sensing any guidance on its ribcage, begins to move skittishly in tight, concentric circles.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
  • While skittishly edited, the film nevertheless builds up Faithfull’s biography in basic chronological order.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
Definition of skittishly
Adverb
  • On general principles, Harley trikes have also always been … um, kinda lively in their altogether unique what-passes-for-handling department.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The peach came through clearly, though ginger kept the drink lively enough for another sip.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of lively
Adverb
  • Nardulli raised his hand to his forehead, then saw Faragna heading toward him briskly, unconcerned with the sand getting into his dress shoes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The neon lights began to move about briskly, like gleaming whirligig beetles, and the lights on the advertising tower closest to the stadium flickered across the Squirrel-brand margarine ad.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of briskly
Adverb
  • Plenty of his peers filled the void, none more energetically than Chesney, who has by now built a beachy brand that almost rivals Buffett’s.
    — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
  • There was also a large contingent of Iranian fans who energetically waved the nation’s current flag.
    — Todd Harmonson, Oc Register, 16 June 2026
Definition of energetically
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Sportively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sportively. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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