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Glite Dictionary
impishly

impishly

1 6.7
To act in a playful and slightly naughty way that seems friendly
  • adverb
  • /ˈɪmpɪʃli/
translation icon : traviesamente
  • Ed smiles impishly, then sticks the teeth back in his mouth.
  • grinned impishly
  • smiled impishly
  • said impishly

Examples

  • "Everyone presently in Landing," Piemur said with a shrug, and then grinned impishly.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "Are you having fun, Ehlana?" She grinned impishly at him and winked.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • She was smiling impishly at him.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • She cocked her head to one side impishly, causing her hair to fall around her face.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Cerril grinned impishly.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • She winked impishly.

    Academic text (2007)

  • I refer also to his jumping upon the table his first night with us and impishly cuffing a meatball off the platter and chasing it into the next room.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Bill was always such a delight, so generous, so impishly mischievous, with the wisdom and awareness of a much older man but the spirit, fire, mojo, and curiosity of a teenager.

    Blog text (29)

  • "Can I borrow your phone?" she asked impishly, winking at him.

  • He grinned impishly as he hid the cookies behind his back.

Synonyms

playfully
vsimpishly
18 1.4

In a fun, teasing way

is specifically mischievous and cheekily bold, not merely light fun
mischievously
vsimpishly
3 4.6

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

is more about cheeky bold charm than simply causing trouble
teasingly
vsimpishly
3 3.7

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

is broader playful mischief, not focused only on mockery or provocation
devilishly
vsimpishly
2 7.2

In a playful, slightly naughty way that shows mischief

is lighter and more charming rather than wicked or intense
archly
vsimpishly
1 7.9

In a playful, teasing way that shows sly amusement

is more openly cheeky and boldly appealing than sly teasing
cheekily
vsimpishly
  • Informal
1 6.2

In a rude but playful way that shows little respect

is more playfully appealing and less openly rude or disrespectful
roguishly
vsimpishly
1 7.3

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

is more about charming boldness than plain cheeky behaviour
puckishly
vsimpishly
1 9.6

To act in a playful and slightly naughty way

is the same in meaning but differs only as another word
sassily
vsimpishly
  • Informal
7.1

In a bold, lively, slightly rude way that attracts attention

is more playfully mischievous and subtly appealing rather than attention seeking
banteringly
vsimpishly
  • Informal
7.7

In a playful, teasing way that shows you are joking

is more mischievous and cheeky, not just friendly social joking
waggishly
vsimpishly
  • Literature
7.7

In a playful joking way to make people laugh

is more mischievous and boldly cheeky rather than only joking

Antonyms

seriously
∞ 1.6

In a way that shows you mean what you say

How Mischievous

devilishly
2 7.2
naughtily
1 5.1
impishly
1 6.7
cheekily
  • Informal
1 6.2
roguishly
1 7.3
playfully
18 1.4

Surface Forms

impishly positive
impishlier comparative
impishliest superlative

Morphology

impishly = impish (transparent) = imp + ish + ly

This is a straightforward adverb formation from the adjective 'impish', whose meaning is itself clearly built from 'imp' + '-ish'.

Etymology

Impishly comes from the short word imp, originally used for a small, mischievous creature or playful child, plus the endings -ish and -ly. So, to act impishly is to act 'in a playful, mischievous, or cheeky way', like a little imp in a story.