archness

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.

But what I remember most is the laugh, which Posey’s Irene used as a weapon to defuse someone’s plastic-surgery joke, deploying it with performative archness — as if Irene watched herself laugh.

From New York Times • Dec. 4, 2023

Now, they are buzzing with memes, videos and messages of congratulation, but also a strain of sceptical archness.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2022

All the chapter titles end in “y,” adding to a general mood of effervescent archness.

From Washington Post • Oct. 25, 2021

The archness of Ivers’ portrayal smacks of a provincial acting teacher who has been relegated to performing in dusty college classrooms and on supermarket lines.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 12, 2021

Despite the archness of his tone—which normally would have irritated me—there was a melancholy undernote in his voice.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt