as in friskily
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Recent Examples of playfully
His parents recalled playfully hitting him with pool noodles during his progressions, a routine that eventually drew in a growing group of neighborhood kids for daily practices.
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Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Walt playfully honored Fowler for his work on the Submarine Voyage with a plaque designating him Commander-in-Chief of the Disneyland Navy.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
During her speech, Paulson shared a bunch of text messages Keaton had sent her over the years, all of which were at once warm and acerbic, kind and a playfully combative.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Jan. 2026
Additionally, Paulson shared a series of old text messages and emails from Keaton during her gala remarks, which playfully showcased Keaton's sharp wit and zany sense of humor.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
The editor in chief issued an open invitation for Clooney to visit her newsroom and playfully mocked his move to France.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Dec. 2025
In a sweet social media video, Allen is seen kissing Steinfeld's belly while playfully posing in a snowy scene.
—Sari Hitchins, Parents, 27 Dec. 2025
In June, a man in California captured real-life video of coyotes wandering onto a trampoline and playfully bouncing.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
And knows how to playfully call its audience.
—Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playfully
Adverb
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The mom of two could be seen typing and looking animatedly at her screen, appearing shocked.—
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The One Battle After Another star was filmed interacting animatedly with an unknown attendee at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday night.—
Adverb
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This is a rebirth point, emotionally, energetically, and intuitively.—
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In a two- to three-quart bowl, whisk the eggs and add the maple syrup, milk, and vegetable oil, mixing energetically with the whisk.—
Adverb
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The song's interplay between choir and orchestra is buoyantly euphoric, opening a door to bolder, more intentionally progressive and soulful sounds in the country's mainstream.—
Adverb
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Add ice and stir briskly for 10 seconds (if using small ice) to 25 seconds (if using big ice).—
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Spend a few minutes briskly walking or marching in place, practicing shoulder rolls, arm circles, a torso twist and alternating between a downward facing dog and a plank.—
Adverb
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While skittishly edited, the film nevertheless builds up Faithfull’s biography in basic chronological order.—
Adverb
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The neighborhoods of Alfama and Bairro Alto stay lively late into the night with fado music, good wine, and shared plates.—
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His disdain for Christmas is no match for visits from enchanting ghosts, a lively ensemble of characters, and the music of the season.—
Adverb
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Then again, maybe $1,000 just rolls trippingly off the tongue and into Trump’s good graces.—
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One man, whose arrogance and ego lead him trippingly into chaos of his own making, can turn a shining city on the hill into a shadowy, taudry replica of itself. …—
Adverb
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Lightfoot’s vocals were added later, as his crisply enunciated singing, vivid lyrics and Irish-style folk melody sold the storytelling.—
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By the end of the opening period, the Clippers had more turnovers (nine) than shots made (eight) and rebounds (seven) while the Jazz were moving the ball crisply and scoring in the paint at will, closing the period on a 24-5 run.—
Cite this Entry
“Playfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playfully. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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