as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
told the prankish lad that someone would eventually get hurt if he kept it up
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Recent Examples of prankish
In person, Wood is funny but sedate, speaking in a deadpan carried along by a prankish undercurrent.
—
Ismail Muhammad, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Fuchs put a prankish spin on the descending octaves that tootle above the reprise of the symphony’s solemn opening.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
While Gandhi begins his pursuit with a largely prankish approach, his film (and the gimmick anchoring it) surprisingly illuminates what some people gain from becoming part of a communal family.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 31 July 2024
The movie alternates between prankish laughs and visual poetry.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
The tone of the music is dark and hellish mixed with silly and prankish.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 22 Mar. 2024
Think of him on Hot 97 with a straight face, occasionally a prankish smirk, pushing a theory that Ray J is a pivotal influence on all of Black culture.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 16 Feb. 2024
By Spencer Kornhaber January 31, 2024, 7 AM ET
The comeback single for the prankish rapper Lil Nas X has flopped in the best way possible: by debuting, on the Billboard Hot 100, at No. 69.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2024
During the memorial, speeches by friends and family included little talk of Honest Abe but plenty of tributes to Mann’s wit, intelligence, prankish spirit and love of New York City.
—Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2024
Ismail Muhammad, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Fuchs put a prankish spin on the descending octaves that tootle above the reprise of the symphony’s solemn opening.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
While Gandhi begins his pursuit with a largely prankish approach, his film (and the gimmick anchoring it) surprisingly illuminates what some people gain from becoming part of a communal family.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 31 July 2024
The movie alternates between prankish laughs and visual poetry.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
The tone of the music is dark and hellish mixed with silly and prankish.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 22 Mar. 2024
Think of him on Hot 97 with a straight face, occasionally a prankish smirk, pushing a theory that Ray J is a pivotal influence on all of Black culture.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 16 Feb. 2024
By Spencer Kornhaber January 31, 2024, 7 AM ET
The comeback single for the prankish rapper Lil Nas X has flopped in the best way possible: by debuting, on the Billboard Hot 100, at No. 69.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2024
During the memorial, speeches by friends and family included little talk of Honest Abe but plenty of tributes to Mann’s wit, intelligence, prankish spirit and love of New York City.
—Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prankish
Adjective
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For families with mischievous kids, another unit with a more robust child lock, like the Samsung or GE models, would be better.—
Meg St-Esprit,
Bon Appétit,
18 Mar. 2025
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But Kerrygold, the cheese brand, believes that according to Irish folklore, that little pocket was meant to hold cheese and ward off mischievous fairies.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
WWD,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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A lot of exposition about the wicked stepmother being done very rapidly here.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
21 Mar. 2025
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Steven Lorentz gave his team a 2-1 lead by firing a wicked wrist shot for a short-handed goal in the early third.—
Kevin Papetti,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Embrace authentic storytelling, playful language and unique design.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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From Carol Stream, Kyle Daily’s knives have playful handles with a contoured coke-bottle shape, whimsical file work along the spine and studs pressed in like polka-dots.—
Ahmed Ali Akbar,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prankish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prankish. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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