Meaning & use
impish
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Playfully naughty in a charming, harmless way, as if enjoying a small trick.
Grammar: Used before a noun (an impish grin) or after linking verbs (he looked impish); it has comparative and superlative forms.
Patterns
- an impish grin
- an impish smile
- look impish
The child gave an impish grin and hid the cookies behind her back.
He has an impish sense of humor that keeps meetings lively.
Her impish expression told me she had already planned a prank.
adjectivecomparable
Suggesting a small, lively spirit that likes teasing people gently.
Grammar: Often describes faces, eyes or moods rather than serious behavior.
Patterns
- impish eyes
- an impish mood
- an impish personality
There was an impish gleam in his eyes as he told the story.
The actor is known for his impish charm on stage.
Word forms
| comparative | more impish |
|---|---|
| superlative | most impish |
| adverb | impishly |
| noun | impishness |
Common combinations
- an impish grin
- He answered with an impish grin, clearly enjoying the joke.
- impish sense of humor
- Her impish sense of humor made even dull lessons fun.
- impish charm
- The puppy's impish charm won over everyone at the shelter.
- impish delight
- She took impish delight in hiding her brother's shoes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mischievous
- Very close, but mischievous can also suggest real trouble or harm, while impish is always light and charming.
- playful
- Simply means full of fun; impish adds a hint of naughty teasing.
- naughty
- Often used to criticize a child's behavior; impish is gentler and more affectionate.
- puckish
- More literary and means the same kind of playful mischief.
Opposites
Word family
- imp noun
- A small, mischievous creature in old stories; also a naughty child.
- impishly adverb
- In a playfully naughty way.
- impishness noun
- The quality of being playfully mischievous.
Commonly confused: impish or impious? impish or impy?
impish vs impious
Impious means showing no respect for religion or sacred things; impish means playfully naughty.
impish vs impy
Not a standard English word; if you mean playfully naughty, use impish.
Practice
Which word best completes the sentence? "The little boy gave an ______ grin as he slipped a frog into his sister's bag."
Choose one answer.
"Impish" means playfully naughty, which fits a harmless prank. "Impious" is about disrespect for religion, "imperious" means bossy, and "impartial" means fair and neutral.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “impish”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.