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
Performances are more relaxed and artists are more playful; the sound is dialed in.
—
Andrea Domanick, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
This Southwestern dish was created in the 1940s by chef Helen Corbitt as a playful twist on black-eyed peas, a Southern symbol of good luck.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
Cole is also full of energy and is playful and active.
—Maryanne Dell, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
She’s aided immeasurably by the captivating chemistry between her and Daniel Petzold as Jo’s best friend, the similarly playful and witty neighbor, Laurie.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for playful
Andrea Domanick, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
This Southwestern dish was created in the 1940s by chef Helen Corbitt as a playful twist on black-eyed peas, a Southern symbol of good luck.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
Cole is also full of energy and is playful and active.
—Maryanne Dell, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
She’s aided immeasurably by the captivating chemistry between her and Daniel Petzold as Jo’s best friend, the similarly playful and witty neighbor, Laurie.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for playful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playful
Adjective
-
And, as scripted by Craig Mazin (The Last of Us), their dialogue is both mildly amusing and intriguingly philosophical, if at times misguided.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
-
And while the performances and the writing are still spackled with amusing barbs and observations about some of the grossest people in American life, The Audacity is missing a crucial forward momentum.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Play wants safe boundaries as mischievous Mercury conjoins imaginative Neptune in your 5th House of Creativity.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The backup competition should be entertaining to watch throughout training camp and the preseason.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Fascist propaganda exists to cover up reality and present a glorious, entertaining show.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This lively street—lined with elegant colonial homes and cozy cafes and restaurants—culminates at the iconic Ex-Convento de San Bernardino de Siena, known for its nightly video-mapping shows projected in Spanish and in English.—
Regina Zumarraga,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The suit included some versions of Indiana’s trademark work, LOVE, which depicts the word love in lively serif characters, the LO situated atop the VE, with the O placed at an angle.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Knoxville and his merry band of delightfully sadistic goons are back for one possibly final rodeo.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
-
October welcomes the annual Amelia Island Jazz Festival, and December plays host to Dickens on Centre, which gives downtown Fernandina a merry Victorian makeover just before Christmas.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Japanese quartet take Ra’s skein of electronic noise as a starting point, wrapping it in a sizzling no wave funk beat, vocals that veer between incantatory and goofy, and bewitching mandalas of chimes and gongs.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Keno brought his goofy side to every practice, getting laughs at stinky feet jokes, or pretending to run into a door.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Then the Timberwolves got frisky.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The Litles detailed in the complaint and in an interview with the Tribune how their frisky escapades, appearance and young children seemed to increasingly agitate residents and staff.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In the hours before the dinner, the blocks surrounding the Hilton were already jammed with cars, onlookers, and energetic protesters.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The build from the back at all costs, but with relatively no clear shape, and a huge risk / reward dynamic is not what a youthful energetic team should be doing.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playful. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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