impish

[im-pish]

adjective

1. mischievous.

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of an imp.

impish

/ ˈɪmpɪʃ /

adjective

1. of or resembling an imp; mischievous

Other Word Forms

• impishly adverb
• impishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of impish¹

First recorded in 1645–55; imp + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

He produced candid, often impish shots of the rockers on stage and off.

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It hung in a place of honor in the headmistress’s office, where the founder’s wise yet impish face gazed down at any student who happened to end up sitting across from Miss Mortimer’s desk.

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This time, he had an impish twinkle in his eye.

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Encouraged either by Escoto’s impish grin or the cake’s playful spirit, someone pushed his face into the cake — with just enough force to cover his face in frosting but not enough to topple it over.

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But the Rodgers and Hammerstein works stirred the soul in a way the more impish Rodgers and Hart shows couldn’t, and they remain cornerstones of the musical theater.

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Related Words

• devilish 
• jaunty 
• naughty 
• playful