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waggishness

waggishness

8.1
A playful, slightly naughty way of being funny that makes people smile
  • noun
  • /ˈwæɡɪʃnəs/
  • Literature
translation icon : jocosidad
  • Despite the serious topic, his waggishness kept the discussion light-hearted.

Examples

  • Also, ventures into the imponderable could trigger waggishness, and the generally sedate editorial pages of New York.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Her waggishness always brightens up the room during dull meetings.

  • The comedian's waggishness made the audience burst into laughter.

Synonyms

jocularity
vswaggishness
1 8.0

A playful, joking way of behaving that makes people laugh

is more mischievous and teasing in tone
drollery
vswaggishness
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A short funny remark or action that makes people smile

is the broader playful mischievous quality behind such remarks
funniness
vswaggishness
1 2.7

A thing that makes people laugh

is more playful and mischievously clever than simple amusement
impishness
vswaggishness
1 6.7

A playful, slightly naughty act like a small joke or trick

is more about clever wit than physical pranks
wittiness
vswaggishness
1 5.0

The ability to make quick clever remarks that make people laugh

adds a mischievous teasing element beyond pure cleverness
facetiousness
vswaggishness
1 7.8

A habit of making playful jokes about serious things

is more mischievously playful without the focus on inappropriateness
comicality
vswaggishness
1 7.4

A quality that makes people laugh

is more mischievously witty rather than simply broadly funny
waggery
vswaggishness
  • Archaic
9.9

Playful acts that tease people in a friendly way

is the abstract quality rather than the concrete acts
jocosity
vswaggishness
  • Formal
9.9

To joke and be playful in a friendly way that makes people smile

is more pointedly mischievous and cleverly witty
puckishness
vswaggishness
8.8

A playful, teasing way of behaving that surprises people

leans more toward sly verbal wit than mere mischief
roguishness
vswaggishness
7.5

A playful habit of doing mischief or telling small lies that amuses people

is more about playful wit than dishonest behavior
whimsicality
vswaggishness
7.9

A playful, imaginative way of acting or creating that seems unusual and unpredictable

is more teasingly witty and mischievous than merely fanciful
drollness
vswaggishness
7.3

Being amusing in a slightly odd and unexpected way

is more lively and teasingly mischievous than quiet oddity
humorousness
vswaggishness
4.6

Being funny in a way that makes people laugh

is more playfully teasing and slyly witty than broad funniness

Antonyms

53 2.7

A calm and honest way of speaking or acting that shows you mean what you say

solemnity
  • Formal
9 7.0

A serious, formal feeling that shows respect

How Playful

naughtiness
2 3.2
mischief
34 2.7
waggishness
  • Literature
8.1
drollery
  • Archaic
1 8.6
playfulness
8 2.5

Surface Forms

waggishness singular
waggishnesses plural

Morphology

waggishness = waggish (transparent) = wag + ish + ness

The noun is a straightforward nominalization of the adjective 'waggish' using the productive suffix '-ness'.

Etymology

The word waggishness comes from the simple word wag, which means 'to move' or 'shake' and was used for a playful 'person who jokes', like a dog 'wagging' its tail to show fun. So, waggishness means being playful and joking in a light, teasing way.