playful

[pley-fuhl] / ˈpleɪ fəl /

ADJECTIVE

funny, fun-loving

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful comical flirtatious frisky good-natured impish joking lighthearted lively mischievous spirited sprightly tongue-in-cheek whimsical

WEAK

antic blithe coltish elvish feeling one's oats frolicsome full of pep gamesome gay jaunty jesting jocund joyous merry mirthful prankish puckish rollicking snappy sportive teasing vivacious waggish zippy

Antonyms

STRONGEST

apathetic behaved depressed dispirited grave inactive lazy lethargic lifeless sad serious unhappy

WEAK

humorless working

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Apps can be fun and playful, and can help us maintain motivation, develop vocabulary and embed grammatical structures.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi and translator Lin King won the International Booker Prize on Tuesday for "Taiwan Travelogue", a playful postcolonial novel with a culinary bent.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

“The End of Everything” transforms what could be a grim subject into a playful exploration of how science can be used to illuminate even the most distant possible future.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Rachel Bonnetta opened the show with a mix of playful confidence and high-energy hilarity, perfectly warming up the crowd before introducing the main attraction to fans.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

For answer, Bigwig sat up and gave Chervil a playful cuff, hard enough to roll him over.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Vocabulary lists containing playful

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Tone and Point of View, List 2

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