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
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
While Gandhi begins his pursuit with a largely prankish approach, his film (and the gimmick anchoring it) surprisingly illuminates what some people gain from becoming part of a communal family.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 31 July 2024
The movie alternates between prankish laughs and visual poetry.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
The tone of the music is dark and hellish mixed with silly and prankish.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 22 Mar. 2024
Think of him on Hot 97 with a straight face, occasionally a prankish smirk, pushing a theory that Ray J is a pivotal influence on all of Black culture.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 16 Feb. 2024
By Spencer Kornhaber January 31, 2024, 7 AM ET
The comeback single for the prankish rapper Lil Nas X has flopped in the best way possible: by debuting, on the Billboard Hot 100, at No. 69.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2024
During the memorial, speeches by friends and family included little talk of Honest Abe but plenty of tributes to Mann’s wit, intelligence, prankish spirit and love of New York City.
—Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2024
His adaptations revel in their prankish infidelity, their frenetic reassembling of beloved literary texts.
—Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 11 Oct. 2023
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
While Gandhi begins his pursuit with a largely prankish approach, his film (and the gimmick anchoring it) surprisingly illuminates what some people gain from becoming part of a communal family.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 31 July 2024
The movie alternates between prankish laughs and visual poetry.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
The tone of the music is dark and hellish mixed with silly and prankish.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 22 Mar. 2024
Think of him on Hot 97 with a straight face, occasionally a prankish smirk, pushing a theory that Ray J is a pivotal influence on all of Black culture.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 16 Feb. 2024
By Spencer Kornhaber January 31, 2024, 7 AM ET
The comeback single for the prankish rapper Lil Nas X has flopped in the best way possible: by debuting, on the Billboard Hot 100, at No. 69.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2024
During the memorial, speeches by friends and family included little talk of Honest Abe but plenty of tributes to Mann’s wit, intelligence, prankish spirit and love of New York City.
—Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2024
His adaptations revel in their prankish infidelity, their frenetic reassembling of beloved literary texts.
—Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 11 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prankish
Adjective
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Coyotes often mate for life and are good parents, a contradiction to popular culture’s idea of the desert wolf as mischievous and cunning villain.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Pudi, as usual, is as mischievous as ever in his relentless pursuit of climbing the corporate ladder, outsmarting his bosses—and perhaps even himself.—
Joel Thayer,
Newsweek,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This is a wicked satire that would make Jonathan Swift sit up and take notice.—
Barbara Ellis,
The Denver Post,
3 Feb. 2025
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Cinderella becomes Cinderella, and Elvira becomes the wicked stepsister.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Decorated with lace-up flys and perched just so on the hips, Marant’s tight pants are playful, vintage-inspired takes on the trend.—
Jana Ackermann,
Glamour,
30 Jan. 2025
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The Top Dawg signee leaps beyond her TikTok hit and playful EPs with effortless storytelling and beats that harken back to ’90s hip-hop.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
29 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near prankish
Cite this Entry
“Prankish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prankish. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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