impish
Say it: IM-pish /ˈɪmpɪʃ/ · adjective
What “impish” means
Cheeky and mischievous in a childlike way.
More precisely: Mischievous in a playful, childlike way.
Example: “Her impish sense of humour came out when she put googly eyes on the office plants.”
When to use it
Use it for someone's playful grin or small, harmless mischief, especially when their behaviour has a childlike charm.
Memory trick
An imp is a little mischievous creature: imagine its cheeky grin.
Similar words
mischievous, puckish, cheeky
Where it comes from
From imp, originally 'a young shoot', later 'a child of the devil'.
Quick check
A child puts a toy frog in your slipper, then watches with a cheeky little smile. Their expression is…
stern or impish?
Show the answer
impish
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