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
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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
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
-
Michelle Trachtenberg's fans are remembering her in one of her most mischievous roles.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
26 Feb. 2025
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Addressing his health issues and impact of his Parkinson’s diagnosis, the film showcases the central role music continues to play in Ozzy’s life, also proving his mischievous sense of humor remains resolutely intact, despite it all.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Are people born wicked, or is wickedness thrust upon them?—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
14 Feb. 2025
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Cancer had snatched his leg with a wicked arm tackle.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This neon green swimsuit is the epitome of all of these elements, with a playful cutout across the torso and a high-cut waist to flash some skin.—
Madison Yauger,
People.com,
23 Feb. 2025
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As innocent and playful as most of the interactions between the fans were, Goggin felt the wider implications that the game carried seemed somewhat lost on his American counterparts.—
Dan Robson,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knavish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knavish. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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