waggish

[ wag-ish ]

adjective

1. like a wag; roguish in merriment and good humor; jocular:

   Fielding and Sterne are waggish writers.

   Synonyms: funny, comical, droll, jocose, merry, mischievous, jocund

2. characteristic of or befitting a wag:

   waggish humor.

Other Words From

• waggish·ly adverb
• waggish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of waggish¹

First recorded in 1580–90; wag + -ish ¹

Synonym Study

See humorous ¹.

Example Sentences

The third-day story, as I recall, fell to John Kifner, then a waggish youngster, later a great foreign correspondent.

From The Daily Beast

“The Spawn of Carefully Spent Sperm,” a waggish still childless friend of mine suggested.

From The Daily Beast

The stranger looked sternly at the waggish apprentice, and seemed to grasp his cudgel in rather a menacing fashion.

From Project Gutenberg

"Mind old Jerry's ghost doesn't catch hold of you," cried her waggish brother Jack, as she crossed the threshold, tea-can in hand.

From Project Gutenberg

One would have said that some waggish creature was producing them and amusing himself with our embarrassment.

From Project Gutenberg

"You people better draw up an agreement as to who's to have all this gold," said Locke, with a waggish smile.

From Project Gutenberg

Yes, and a little cooler atmosphere from above, added a third waggish one.

From Project Gutenberg