as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
the gang of impish children ran into the street, utterly oblivious to the traffic
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Recent Examples of impish
Whenever O’Brien was onstage, balancing impish humor with a palpable love for movies and compassion for an industry where so many recently lost so much to the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles, the ceremony felt light and loose.
—
Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
These glassy encasements elevated each itty-bitty snapshot of kitschy urban ephemera (a taxi cab, a bodega coffee cup, a slice of pizza, a smiley-face plastic shopping bag) to a surprising elegance—undercut with impish humor.
—Marina Harss, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
At least Elvis Costello’s legendary false start from ’78 was referenced, albeit by an impish Eddie Vedder, not Costello himself.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Feb. 2025
Her glamorous sound, fiery technique and sharp musicality, served up with impish charm and slinky couture, reliably cause runs on the box office.
—Corinna Da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impish
Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
These glassy encasements elevated each itty-bitty snapshot of kitschy urban ephemera (a taxi cab, a bodega coffee cup, a slice of pizza, a smiley-face plastic shopping bag) to a surprising elegance—undercut with impish humor.
—Marina Harss, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
At least Elvis Costello’s legendary false start from ’78 was referenced, albeit by an impish Eddie Vedder, not Costello himself.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Feb. 2025
Her glamorous sound, fiery technique and sharp musicality, served up with impish charm and slinky couture, reliably cause runs on the box office.
—Corinna Da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impish
Adjective
-
Her intelligence is that vital and exacting, her wit that mischievous, her concerns – feminism, environmentalism, dystopian societies – that urgently relevant.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 July 2025
-
Wearing a now-iconic red tie and less cartoonish design with more angular and mischievous features, DKC’s version of Kong has been a staple for over 30 years.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Tiernan McKinney often works on guitar necks, while Kennedy himself has input along the way on design, wood type, color and the wicked inlays found from top to bottom of each piece.—
Otto Rabe,
The Enquirer,
9 July 2025
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The Judean wilds are full of others seeking clarity, plus a wicked merchant named Musa sent to test and torment the young ascetic from Galilee.—
Mia Barzilay Freund,
Vogue,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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As the twins of the zodiac, Gemini parents are playful, adaptable, and quick on their feet.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
15 July 2025
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White, who goes by Baby J, was described by cousin Raven Jackson as sweet, playful and charismatic.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impish. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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