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arch

arch

7.9
Playfully teasing in a sly way
  • adjective
  • /ɑrtʃ/
  • Literature
translation icon : pícaro
  • The author's arch humor kept the readers entertained throughout the novel.

Quite, quite arch, quite, yeah, and quite, quite circular.

Examples

  • The late-twentieth-century notion that individualism is selfishness is thus wide of the mark, promoted by society's arch ideological rival: community.

    Academic text (2002)
  • And it's so that I I have that kind of evil arch, if that makes any sense.

  • Quite, quite arch, quite, yeah, and quite, quite circular.

  • They were really kind of arch, you know, not kind of nuanced looks at that.

  • They'd say this in arch, ironic tones, as if there were something incredibly witty about calling a Jewish kid "Jewboy."

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Her arch remarks during the meeting had everyone laughing at her playful teasing.

  • He delivered his speech in an arch tone, making even serious topics sound amusing.

Synonyms

wicked
vsarch
61 4.0

Behaving in a naughty, playful way that annoys others

is more about sly remarks and manner than general naughtiness
cheeky
vsarch
  • Informal
33 4.8

Being rude in a playful way that shows little respect

is more sly and teasing in words than openly impudent behaviour
wry
vsarch
21 7.5

Showing dry, slightly mocking humor and not taking things seriously

is more directly sly and teasing in manner or words than ironic dryness
mischievous
vsarch
19 3.5

Causing playful trouble that is not harmful

is specifically sly and teasing in manner or remarks rather than general mischief
quizzical
vsarch
8 7.1

A look that shows mild confusion and a little amusement

is more about deliberately sly and teasing speech or manner than facial amusement
impish
vsarch
6 6.1

Playfully naughty in a way that teases others

is more about sly teasing in speech or manner than simple naughtiness
roguish
vsarch
3 6.7

Showing playful, friendly mischief

is more focused on sly teasing in manner or words than charm
puckish
vsarch
2 8.4

Being playful in a slightly naughty, teasing way

is sly and teasing in manner or remarks rather than only naughty fun
smirky
vsarch
1 7.8

Having a small proud smile that shows you feel pleased with yourself

is more about playful, teasing manner and remarks rather than smug expression
chippy
vsarch
  • UK
1 7.7

Being lively and cheerful, often a little cheeky

is more sly and teasing in remarks rather than simply upbeat cheekiness
prankish
vsarch
  • Informal
1 7.5

Being playful and playing small tricks to surprise people

is more about sly teasing and manner than practical trick playing
quippy
vsarch
1 8.1

Saying quick clever remarks that are often funny and a little sarcastic

is more sly and teasing in manner rather than focused on witty lines
pícaro
vsarch
  • Literature
9.9

Playfully naughty in a way that shows teasing or flirtation

is more about sly teasing in words or manner than flirting
implike
vsarch
  • Informal
8.1

Playfully naughty and teasing like a small troublemaker

leans more to sly, teasing remarks rather than only mischievous behaviour
scampish
vsarch
6.3

Acting playful and slightly naughty, often doing small harmless tricks

is more sly and teasing in speech or manner than merely rascal behaviour
teasing
vsarch
2.7

Playfully making fun of someone in a kind way

is more about sly manner and sly remarks than direct provoking
bantering
vsarch
  • Informal
5.7

Friendly teasing that makes people laugh

is sly and teasing in manner rather than mainly playful joking tone
pixilated
vsarch
  • UK
9.3

Playfully naughty and a little odd

is more about sly, teasing manner and remarks rather than odd eccentricity

Antonyms

452 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

Compounds

5 7.8

A person's main enemy who often opposes them

2 3.1

A part of a shoe that holds up the curved middle of the foot

aortic arch
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A curved part of the main artery from the heart that sends blood to the head, neck, and arms

pointed arch
  • Specialized
1 6.8

An arch with a pointed top used in old churches in Europe

zygomatic arch
  • Specialized
1 9.0

A curved bone on the side of the skull where the cheek meets the head

fallen arch
  • Specialized
1 7.4

The curved part of the foot becomes flat so the whole sole touches the ground

neural arch
  • Specialized
1 7.8

Curved bony part at the back of a spine bone that surrounds the spinal cord

proscenium arch
  • Specialized
1 8.6

An arch over a stage that makes a frame between the actors and the audience

1 6.2

A curved half-circle structure that supports doorways or bridges

A large arch that people build to celebrate a victory or important event

A bridge built of steel with its main support shaped like an arch

basket-handle arch
  • Specialized
8.2

An arch with a wide, flat curve made from parts of three circles, often used in bridges and large buildings

bell arch
  • Specialized
9.1

An arch with a rounded top that rests on stones sticking out from a wall like a bell

branchial arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A series of arches on each side of a fish's throat that support the gills

broken arch
  • Specialized
8.1

An arch with a gap at the top often filled with decorations

camber arch
  • Specialized
8.9

An arch with a flat top and a slightly curved bottom used in doorways or bridges

corbel arch
  • Specialized
9.9

An arch made by stacking layers of stone or brick that stick inward until they meet at the top

An arch whose height is less than half its width

drop arch
  • Specialized
8.7

An arch with a gently pointed, shallow curve used in buildings

abutment arch
  • Specialized
9.0

An arch that rests on a strong wall at one or both ends to carry weight

alveolar arch
  • Specialized
8.8

A curved part of the upper or lower jaw that holds the teeth

arch doxy
  • NSFW
9.9

A well-known woman who leads or influences a group

flat arch
  • Specialized
7.9

A straight horizontal top for a door or window made of angled stones that support each other

four-centered arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A wide, low arch with a gentle point used in old churches and houses

lancet arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall narrow pointed arch common in early Gothic churches

metatarsal arch
  • Specialized
7.7

A curved area under the front of the foot that supports weight when standing or walking

Moorish arch
  • Specialized
9.4

An arch wider at the bottom that curves to a rounded top and appears in Islamic buildings

gill arch
  • Specialized
9.5

A curved bone or cartilage in the throat of fish and some water amphibians that holds the gills

Gothic arch
  • Specialized
7.4

A stone arch with a pointed top often seen in cathedrals

hemal arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A bony part under a tail bone that protects tail blood vessels

horseshoe arch
  • Specialized
8.1

An arch with a rounded top that curves wider than a half circle

keel arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A pointed arch with S-shaped curves on each side like a ship's bottom

rampant arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A curved building part that starts higher on one side than the other

round arch
  • Specialized
4.1

A curved half-circle shape above a door or bridge seen in Roman buildings

rowlock arch
  • Specialized
9.9

An arch made of two or more rings of wedge-shaped stones

safety arch
  • Specialized
7.9

A curved support inside a building or bridge that holds heavy weight

ogee arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A pointed arch with S-shaped sides used in old churches

pectoral arch
  • Specialized
8.6

Bones near the shoulder made of the collarbones and shoulder blades that support the arm

pelvic arch
  • Specialized
7.0

The bones at the base of the spine that support the legs

pier arch
  • Specialized
8.1

An arch that rests on thick upright supports instead of columns or walls

scoinson arch
  • Archaic
9.9

A curved stone support inside a wall that holds weight above

A curved section in a thick wall that holds the wall above an opening like a window or door

scheme arch
  • Specialized
8.8

An arch that is less than half as tall as it is wide

segmental arch
  • Specialized
7.4

An arch with a curve smaller than a half circle used for doors and bridges

semicircular arch
  • Specialized
5.8

A curved structure shaped like a half circle used above doors and bridges

sunken arch
  • Specialized
6.1

A foot problem where the middle part is flat so the whole bottom of the foot touches the ground

superciliary arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A ridge of bone above the eye socket on the forehead

three-centered arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A curved opening made by joining three curves into a wide, low shape

trefoil arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A pointed arch with three round parts that looks like a cloverleaf

trimmer arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A curved support built between short floor beams to carry the weight of a fireplace opening

trumpet arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A cone-shaped corner support that helps carry a dome over a square room

shouldered arch
  • Specialized
9.9

An arch with a horizontal beam resting on stones that stick in from each side of an opening

skene arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A curved opening in a wall that is lower than it is wide

skew arch
  • Specialized
9.4

An arch with ends that meet the front at an angle and that is used on bridges or tunnels

skeen arch
  • Specialized
9.9

A low arch that is less than half as high as it is wide

straight arch
  • Specialized
7.2

A structure with a straight horizontal top made of stones cut like wedges that support each other

Tudor arch
  • Specialized
8.2

A low, slightly pointed arch used on old English buildings

vertebral arch
  • Specialized
8.3

Curved bony part at the back of a spine bone that protects the spinal cord

How Mischievous

mischievous
5 4.1
sly
31 4.9
arch
  • Literature
7.9
teasing
2.7
playful
79 1.6

Surface Forms

arch positive

Etymology

Arch as an adjective comes from an old root meaning 'chief' or 'extreme', the same idea you see in archenemy and archbishop. A helpful way to remember this is that an arch smile or remark is playfully 'very' sly or teasing, so it is mildly naughty in a clever way.