as in amusing
given to good-natured joking or teasing
the little girl was lighthearted and playful
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of playful
Gill's energetic stage presence included playful voice changes and dramatic tap-dancing during the musical break.
—
Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Taken as an unexpected loss, Kai is remembered for her curious and playful personality by her keepers.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Featuring a fit-and-flare silhouette and delicate satin finish, this dress is perfect for guests looking for a polished yet playful outfit.
—Jené Luciani Sena, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, Chanel’s playful new take on its signature octagonal-dial Première watch features an extra-long gold and leather chain designed to wrap not only around the wrist but also the neck.
—Milena Lazazzera, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playful
Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Taken as an unexpected loss, Kai is remembered for her curious and playful personality by her keepers.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Featuring a fit-and-flare silhouette and delicate satin finish, this dress is perfect for guests looking for a polished yet playful outfit.
—Jené Luciani Sena, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, Chanel’s playful new take on its signature octagonal-dial Première watch features an extra-long gold and leather chain designed to wrap not only around the wrist but also the neck.
—Milena Lazazzera, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for playful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful
Adjective
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Also amusing is Fiona Glascott as Lady Violet, an old acquaintance of Sherlock’s who specializes officially in schooling young ladies like Clara to join British high society and unofficially in casting her imperious judgment everywhere.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
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And while the vision of Young, a vigorous 70 in his trademark schoolboy shorts, tie, crew socks and black shoes, is always amusing, there was nothing but serious respect for his finger-blistering playing.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Clark, who wore a mischievous smile, flayed her arm once more for the dramatics before stepping on the court and finishing a defensive drill.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Isaacs appeared in the film series as the father of Tom Felton's Draco Malfoy, a Hogwarts student wizard who serves as a mischievous antagonist opposite Harry Potter (Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Grint), and Hermione Granger (Watson).—
Joey Nolfi,
EW.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Beautiful glassware/barware and accessories for a table or entertaining space are still strong sellers.—
Maggie Gillette,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, Stratton has noticeably regressed as WWE Women’s Champion after a very entertaining run as Ms. Money in the Bank.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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His crossword is not themed, but the entry is lively nonetheless.—
Deb Amlen,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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Located right on the bustling Piazza delle Erbe, Verona’s liveliest piazza built atop the ancient Roman Capitolium, this museum gives new life to a majestic 17th-century palazzo.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Sister Mary Guadalupe wears rimless glasses, and her eyes are shaped like a merry jack-o’-lantern’s, flat on the bottom with semicircles on top.—
Lawrence Wright,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
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Women deserve their own places at the top, and if that means more women are founding companies, the more, the merrier.—
Liz Elting,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Comments Since Sesame Street first began airing in 1969, children have loved it thanks to the goofy, kind, funny, affectionate Muppets—including Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and the rest of the residents of the neighborhood.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
24 Apr. 2025
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Pair over Bluetooth, drop a shot into the app, add a collage frame or goofy sticker, and in half a minute, a wide-format print pops out.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The energy rises as the wrestler and the rapper take energetic strides and bounce to the ring.—
Shaheem Reid,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2025
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The rest of the evening was largely an energetic affair that oscillated between sincere appreciation and light humor, the latter of which began for co-host and winner Gold early in the event.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Light, frisky, sparky, acidic aromas of a lovely matrix of mandarins and honey, butterscotch and butter.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Any hope of the U.S. team making the final in San Francisco after glimmers of a good performance — like being in third place during the final race — evaporated as the crew struggled to maintain stable flight on its frisky F50 boat.—
Andrew Rice,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playful. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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