impishly
gb/ɪmpɪʃli/ us/ɪmpɪʃli/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
C1
property
1
in a playful, mischievous way
In a playful and slightly naughty way.
Usage pattern:
[someone] [does something] impishly
Common mistake:
Don’t use it for serious wrongdoing; it usually suggests harmless, playful mischief.
Synonyms
mischievously (More general; can be less charming and more troublesome.)
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cheekily (Emphasizes rude-but-playful boldness toward others.)
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playfully (Broader and softer; may lack the ‘naughty’ edge.)
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roguishly (Suggests a charming troublemaker, often with confidence.)
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teasingly (Focuses on light teasing of someone rather than mischief in general.)
Antonyms
solemnly (In a serious, dignified way with no playfulness.)
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earnestly (With sincere seriousness rather than teasing humor.)
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gravely (In a serious way, often about something important or sad.)
Collocations
smile impishly
|grin impishly
|look impishly
|wink impishly
|say impishly
|laugh impishly
|raise an eyebrow impishly
|tilt (your) head impishly
|beam impishly
|glance impishly
Themes
behavior
|emotions
|social_interaction
|personality
Examples
- She smiled impishly and hid the cookies behind her back.
- He looked at me impishly and pretended he hadn’t heard the question.
- ‘Maybe I did,’ she said impishly, refusing to explain.
Learner examples
- The child grinned impishly.
- He winked impishly at his friend.
adverb
literary
C2
property
2
in a devilish, imp-like way
In a way that feels like a little devil or spirit.
Usage pattern:
[something] [appears/acts] impishly
Synonyms
devilishly (Stronger and darker; can suggest temptation or wickedness more than play.)
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pixieishly (More magical and light; less ‘devilish’ in tone.)
Antonyms
angelically (In a pure, innocent, or saintly way.)
Collocations
cackle impishly
|dance impishly
|flicker impishly
|appear impishly
|skitter impishly
Themes
literature
|humor
|mythology
Examples
- The firelight flickered impishly across the cave walls.
- In the story, the creature laughed impishly as it vanished into the trees.
Grammar
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.