Word Explorer

Playful

/ˈpleɪfəl/

Liking play, prone to play frequently, such as a child or kitten; rather sportive.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Playful"

adjective

1
Liking play, prone to play frequently, such as a child or kitten; rather sportive.
"Actually, we are pretty playful in our romantic life."
2
Funny, humorous, jesting, frolicsome.
"A party hat is a playful conical hat people wear at parties."
3
Fun, recreational, not serious.
"A brainteaser is a playful puzzle posed as a test of intelligence."
4
Experimental.
"He was a rather playful artist."

🔄 Synonyms of "Playful"

23 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
puckish	Having a tendency to play tricks on people or tease people by making silly jokes about them; mischievous.
impish	Mischievous; of or befitting an imp.
roguish	(idiomatic) Mischievous and playful.
teasingnoun	The act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously, especially by ridicule; provoking someone with persistent annoyances; making fun of, making light of someone.
mischievous	Troublesome, cheeky, badly behaved, impish, naughty, disobedient; showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way and liking to have fun by playing harmless tricks on people or doing things they are not supposed to do.
frisky	Abounding in energy or playfulness.
quizzical	Questioning or suggesting puzzlement.
mockingnoun	derisive or contemptuous
elfinnoun	Resembling an elf or elves, especially in tiny size or features.
pixilated	Behaving in an eccentric manner, as though led by pixies.
frolicky	frolicsome
coltish	Lively, playful and undisciplined (often in a manner judged to be immature).
rascally	Like a rascal.
prankish	Given to or characterized by impishness or playfulness; mischievous.
devilish	Wicked, evil.
implike	Possessing the qualities or appearances of an imp.
rollickingnoun	carefree, merry and boisterous
kittenish	Having the qualities or likeness of a kitten.
sportivenoun	Interested in sport.
playingnoun	(gerund of play) An occasion on which something, such as a song or show, is played.
frolicsome	Characterised or marked by frolicking; playful.
elfish	Mischievous.
elvishnoun	Of or having to do with elves; elven.

↔️ Antonyms of "Playful"

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
serious	Important; weighty; not insignificant.
unplayful	Not playful.
soberverb	Not drunk; not intoxicated.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Playful"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
frolicsome	Characterised or marked by frolicking; playful.
frolicky	frolicsome
friskynoun	Abounding in energy or playfulness.
coltish	Lively, playful and undisciplined (often in a manner judged to be immature).
puckish	Having a tendency to play tricks on people or tease people by making silly jokes about them; mischievous.
teasing	Playfully vexing, especially by ridicule.
prankishnoun	Given to or characterized by impishness or playfulness; mischievous.
impish	Mischievous; of or befitting an imp.
mocking	derisive or contemptuous
mischievous	Troublesome, cheeky, badly behaved, impish, naughty, disobedient; showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way and liking to have fun by playing harmless tricks on people or doing things they are not supposed to do.
rascally	Like a rascal.
sportive	Interested in sport.
roguish	(idiomatic) Mischievous and playful.
pixilated	Behaving in an eccentric manner, as though led by pixies.
rollicking	carefree, merry and boisterous
implike	Possessing the qualities or appearances of an imp.
quizzical	Questioning or suggesting puzzlement.
elfish	Mischievous.
elfin	Resembling an elf or elves, especially in tiny size or features.
elvish	Of or having to do with elves; elven.