impish

adjective

imp·​ish ˈim-pish 

: of, relating to, or befitting an imp

especially : mischievous

impishly adverb

impishness noun

Synonyms

• arch
• devilish
• elvish
• espiègle
• knavish
• leprechaunish
• mischievous
• pixie
• pixy
• pixieish
• prankish
• puckish
• rascally
• roguish
• scampish
• sly
• tricksy
• waggish
• wicked

Examples of impish in a Sentence

the gang of impish children ran into the street, utterly oblivious to the traffic

Recent Examples on the Web

These glassy encasements elevated each itty-bitty snapshot of kitschy urban ephemera (a taxi cab, a bodega coffee cup, a slice of pizza, a smiley-face plastic shopping bag) to a surprising elegance—undercut with impish humor. —Marina Harss, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025

Advertisement Molly, played with impish vivacity and quiet resolve by Michelle Williams, bears little resemblance to the Hollywood archetype of the beautiful young woman dying of cancer. —Judy Berman, Time, 27 Mar. 2025

Mamdani facilitated this energy, working the line, oscillating between rousing effusions on the cost of living and flashing a goofy, impish grin. —Paula Aceves, Curbed, 8 Mar. 2025

Based on David Benedictus’s book, the film tracks closely with the impish spirit of those early De Palmas or a low-budget American variation on the hipster comedy of The Knack … and How to Get It. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

impish

adjective

imp·​ish ˈim-pish 

: mischievous sense 3

impishly adverb

impishness noun