playful

adjective

ˈplā-fəl How to pronounce playful (audio)
Definition of playfulnext
as in amusing
given to good-natured joking or teasing the little girl was lighthearted and playful

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of playful Kids zip by on bikes, their playful banter a reminder that life marches on. — Michael Collins, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 The actress, 40, was a style icon of the 1990s and 2000s, rocking ‘fits with colors and patterns that were always bold, playful and expressive. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Where the story goes from there should be left for audiences to discover on their own, but thanks to Mirren’s captivating and playful performance as Highsmith, A Talent For Murder becomes an unexpected way to honor her legacy. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026 Hawkins New York Cork Coasters (Set of 4) Shopping director Lori Keong’s playful puzzle coasters are at a discount. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for playful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful
  1. amusing
  2. mischievous
  3. entertaining
  4. lively
  5. merry
  6. goofy
  7. frisky
  8. energetic
Adjective
  • That closeness, however, has made the internet’s speculation about their secret romantic arrangement particularly amusing to Bunny, who tells PEOPLE that there is no hidden relationship between the three.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
  • American style can be at turns confounding, amusing, and aspirational.
    — Luis Alberto Rodriguez, Vanity Fair, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of amusing
Adjective
  • Paramount Great Again hat, but didn’t expect the mischievous executive to turn up in Edinburgh wearing the headgear.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Reports from across the UK show the mischievous character lurking outside windows and startling passersby.
    — Gina Park, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of mischievous
Adjective
  • And that's where electric motorcycles can be genuinely entertaining.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The Ohio estate has features that Swift appears to fancy — a grand staircase, an elegant dining room (with a butler’s pantry) for entertaining and a pool.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of entertaining
Adjective
  • Stop into Mercat Municipal, a lively indoor market where locals shop for fresh produce, meat, and fish.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The crowd outside the courthouse was liveliest in late August, when dozens of women wearing pink rallied to show support for Clancy and raise awareness about postpartum mental health, the central pillar of Clancy’s defense.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of lively
Adjective
  • Rounding up his merry men of Sherwood Forest, and his Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland), Robin goes about resisting John’s rule and securing Richard’s throne.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Fortune’s intrepid tech editor, Alexei Oreskovic, and his merry band of reporters will carry on in my absence.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of merry
Adjective
  • So when Billie and Issa get an actual offer for drinks with two firefighters who come to the house, Billie puts on a goofy British accent à la Issa and turns them down, choosing a quiet night at home with her friend instead.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That was therapeutic for these professional dancers who got to be silly and goofy, but confidently.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of goofy
Adjective
  • The Black Crowes broke out with a frisky cover of this Otis Redding tune just as hair metal was giving way to grunge.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The biggest question for those debating whether to see this frisky and original rom-com starring San Francisco native Monica Barbaro and British of-the-moment actor Callum Turner might well be its preposterous premise.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of frisky
Adjective
  • Luckily, Kittredge’s film is hugely entertaining, energetic, and insightful.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • By combining multiple types of light into one image, NASA is able to reveal the complete picture of what this energetic galaxy is made of.
    — Brett Tingley, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of energetic

Browse Nearby Words

playfellows
playful
playfully
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Cite this Entry

“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playful. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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