KNAVISH Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

knavish

adjective

ˈnā-vish

Definition of knavish

as in mischievous

tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness a knavish bunch of urchins racing pell-mell through the marketplace

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of knavish Wells could be playful, knavish, and his tone here is one of urgency and optimism about the distribution of information. — BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2021 The same people who are now telling us that only Republican-voting obscurantists, ignorant deplorables and knavish right-wing media pundits are raising doubts about the vaccine would have been oozing skepticism. — Gerard Baker, WSJ, 12 July 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knavish

Adjective

Paramount Great Again hat, but didn’t expect the mischievous executive to turn up in Edinburgh wearing the headgear.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
Reports from across the UK show the mischievous character lurking outside windows and startling passersby.

— Gina Park, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of mischievous

Adjective

Kiss off the haters with a pretty wicked portrait from our Free Photobooth.

— Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
Along with other large parts of Northwest Indiana, East Chicago was hit with power outages following a wicked storm that blasted through the area a week ago Tuesday.

— Lauren Victory, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of wicked

Adjective

For good measure, Pabst’s social media updates took a tongue-in-cheek approach that may have actually convinced people the posts were more playful than actual pleas for help.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
The world went in, and pliant, playful interpretations flowed out.

— Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of playful

Browse Nearby Words

knaves

knavish

knead

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“Knavish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knavish. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of knavish

adjective

Example Sentences

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