Definitions

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.

Pattie Gonia said in a video that the company “cherry picks a few examples of playful parody and fan art and tries to spin those into some kind of vast use of their logo.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

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

It’s loose and playful, which would seem to be a plus, but it’s too shaggy and imprecise to land, and sometimes seems as if it were made up on the spot.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Then she squeezed my hand and shook me off with a playful smack.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Vocabulary lists containing playful

In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 6

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Tone and Point of View, List 2

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!