as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
told the prankish lad that someone would eventually get hurt if he kept it up
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Recent Examples of prankish
Caltech is a sort of nerd Valhalla, where brilliant and creative youngsters study and engage in prankish mischief.
—
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2026
Still, at its best, Needle Guy applies Brady’s prankish energy to unsettling inversions of his inspirations.
—Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
Yet, the prankish tone keeps Grace from having much of a personality, other than a rebellious screw this.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
And then there’s Whitehead’s own work: erudite, prankish, experimental in a literal sense—the act of listening is sometimes the experiment.
—Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
And within the prankish world created by the production, not everyone was in on the joke.
—David Renard, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Fuchs put a prankish spin on the descending octaves that tootle above the reprise of the symphony’s solemn opening.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2026
Still, at its best, Needle Guy applies Brady’s prankish energy to unsettling inversions of his inspirations.
—Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
Yet, the prankish tone keeps Grace from having much of a personality, other than a rebellious screw this.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
And then there’s Whitehead’s own work: erudite, prankish, experimental in a literal sense—the act of listening is sometimes the experiment.
—Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
And within the prankish world created by the production, not everyone was in on the joke.
—David Renard, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Fuchs put a prankish spin on the descending octaves that tootle above the reprise of the symphony’s solemn opening.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prankish
Adjective
-
Choi produced a mischievous grin.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
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This is a high-spirited opening for curious neighbors and travelers alike, with a mischievous sense of fun that firmly roots guests in their destination.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The 23-year-old is said to be wicked smart, like Purdy, the 49ers star who led San Francisco to a Super Bowl less than two years after going last in the 2022 draft out of Iowa Sate.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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This wicked man is named Tobias Thornhill.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This is the kind of duo that could work for the office or dressy weddings alike; the addition of playful accessories helps keep the ensemble from looking too severe, which is perfect for dinner dates or a night at the theater.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
4 May 2026
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Much of that playful approach is apparent visually through various uses of multimedia.—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prankish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prankish. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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