cheekily

1 6.2

In a rude but playful way that shows little respect

adverb
/ˈtʃiːkɪli/

Informal

: descaradamente

So I perhaps cheekily put my hand a bit closer and he turned round.
cheekily titled
cheekily named

So I perhaps cheekily put my hand a bit closer and he turned round.

Examples

Blaine grinned cheekily and pulled down the edge of the blanket enough to give Kurt a light kiss on his red nose.

Blog text (14)
In fact, the most famous of them, AshleyMadison.com, cheekily urges, "Life is short."

Academic text (2011)
So I smiled at him and cheekily said, "Do you think we could do one more song?"

Blog text (7)
Home is cheekily realizing that your professor is much shorter in person than on Zoom.
And it all begins, cheekily, with, "It was a dark and stormy night?"

Blog text (3)
She now cheekily refers to me as her "sassy girl."

Blog text (21)
He cheekily asked his teacher if he could leave class early to grab lunch.
She cheekily replied, "Why not just give me an A for effort?"
The child cheekily told his mother that he could finish his homework later.

Synonyms

rudely

vscheekily

25 1.3

In a way that is not polite and shows no respect

is bolder and more playfully impertinent rather than merely impolite

mischievously

vscheekily

3 4.6

In a playful way that causes small trouble to make people laugh

is bolder and more disrespectful, not only playful bothering

teasingly

vscheekily

3 3.7

In a playful way that makes someone laugh or feel a little annoyed

is more boldly disrespectful and less light or gentle in tone

flippantly

vscheekily

3 8.0

In a way that shows little respect and treats things lightly

is more deliberately bold and disrespectful, not just unserious or careless

archly

vscheekily

1 7.9

In a playful, teasing way that shows sly amusement

is more direct and openly rude rather than slyly playful

brashly

vscheekily

1 6.8

In a bold, rude way that shows little respect

is more teasing and lighthearted, not simply loud or bluntly rude

impishly

vscheekily

1 6.7

To act in a playful and slightly naughty way that seems friendly

is more overtly rude and shows stronger disrespect rather than charm

roguishly

vscheekily

1 7.3

In a playful way that breaks small rules to make people laugh

is more openly rude and shows stronger disrespect than playful charm

insolently

vscheekily

1 7.6

In a rude way that shows no respect for people in charge

adds a playful, amusing edge rather than pure hostile defiance

impolitely

vscheekily

1 4.2

In a rude way that shows little respect for others

is more boldly disrespectful and often tries to be amusingly impertinent

puckishly

vscheekily

1 9.6

To act in a playful and slightly naughty way

is more directly rude and disrespectful rather than merely playful boldness

saucily

vscheekily

Informal

7.7

In a bold, playful way that shows little respect

is similarly impertinent but leans more toward open disrespect than fun

brassily

vscheekily

8.5

In a bold, rude way that shows no respect

is more playful and amusing, not only boldly provocative or rude

nervily

vscheekily

Archaic

8.9

In a bold, rude way that shows little respect

is more playful and amusing rather than merely audacious or brash

Antonyms

respectfully

101 2.3

In a polite way to someone

How Rude

brazenly

9 6.8

insolently

1 7.6

impudently

1 8.0

cheekily

Informal

1 6.2

mischievously

3 4.6

playfully

18 1.4

Surface Forms

cheekily positive

Morphology

cheekily = cheeky (semi-transparent) = cheek + y + ly

Adding '-ly' to 'cheeky' to form an adverb is a regular and transparent morphological process.

Etymology

Cheekily comes from cheek, which means 'the side of the face'. People began using cheek to mean a bold or rude attitude, as if someone is standing too close or speaking without respect. So to act cheekily is to do something in a bold, slightly rude, or playful way.