puckish

Examples

• All

• He gave Gawaine a puckish grin and an A-okay sign.

  Fiction book (1995)

• He'll just have a good headache in the morning," he assured us with a puckish wink.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Let me tell you," he said, a puckish look on his face, "retirement is beautiful."

  Fiction book (1997)

• Oh, my puckish little rogue.

  Who Is Cletis Tout? (2001)

• As a puckish smile crept over his face, he said: I'm having the time of my life and enjoying my fine rooms at the Palms.

  Fiction book (1994)

• "And no Board of Mental Health to enforce them," Pota added, her thin, delicate face creasing with a puckish smile.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Mother and father flanked their youngest daughter: puckish, red-haired, and freckle-faced.

  Fiction book (2000)

• His puckish appearance was contradicted by tired, melancholy eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses.

  Fiction book (1999)

• He greeted her with his usual puckish grin, shoving his glasses up on his nose.

  Fiction book (1993)

• My parents were not predisposed to like ritzy cow-naming neighbors, but Allen and, for that matter, Winnie were so puckish about their own highfalutin tendencies that they were hard not to be fond of.

  Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

W

wicked

vspuckish

61 4.0

Behaving in a naughty, playful way that annoys others

is more about gentle teasing humour than outright annoyance

C

cheeky

vspuckish

• Informal

33 4.8

Being rude in a playful way that shows little respect

is more teasing and witty rather than primarily rude or bold

S

saucy

vspuckish

• Informal

21 5.8

Being playful and a little rude in a way that teases people

is more about teasing humour than bold disrespect

M

mischievous

vspuckish

19 3.5

Causing playful trouble that is not harmful

is more about teasing humour than actually causing trouble

D

devilish

vspuckish

17 4.4

Being very naughty in a playful, clever way

is more playful and teasing than boldly daring mischief

I

impish

vspuckish

6 6.1

Playfully naughty in a way that teases others

is more about witty, teasing humour than pure naughtiness

R

roguish

vspuckish

3 6.7

Showing playful, friendly mischief

is similar but leans more toward teasing humour than charm

P

prankish

vspuckish

• Informal

1 7.5

Being playful and playing small tricks to surprise people

is more focused on witty teasing than on staging pranks

Q

quippy

vspuckish

1 8.1

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

is more about playful naughtiness and teasing than witty lines

P

pranky

vspuckish

• Informal

1 7.7

Shows playful energy and plays small tricks to surprise people

is more about teasing remarks than active trick playing

I

implike

vspuckish

• Informal

8.1

Playfully naughty and teasing like a small troublemaker

is more focused on playful teasing in speech or manner

A

arch

vspuckish

• Literature

7.9

Playfully teasing in a sly way

is more about lighthearted mischief than primarily sly remarks

S

scampish

vspuckish

6.3

Acting playful and slightly naughty, often doing small harmless tricks

is closer to teasing humour than sustained rascal behaviour

P

pixilated

vspuckish

• UK

9.3

Playfully naughty and a little odd

is more about teasing jokes than odd eccentric behaviour

L

larky

vspuckish

• UK

7.4

Playful and silly in a way that makes people laugh

is more narrowly teasing and mischievous rather than just fun

Antonyms

S

serious

452 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

S

sober

44 4.6

Serious and sensible in behavior or tone

How Playful

mischievous

19 3.5

impish

6 6.1

puckish

2 8.4

playful

79 1.6

cheeky

• Informal

33 4.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology