as in mischievous
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
a knavish bunch of urchins racing pell-mell through the marketplace
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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This mischievous animal has an impressive shoe collection.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
17 July 2025
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The sweet little girl and her mischievous blue alien finally give Hollywood its first billion-dollar movie of 2025, with Lilo & Stitch the only studio film to reach the milestone this year.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
17 July 2025
Adjective
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Similarly, a text grappling with a wicked problem shouldn’t stay limited by the narrow confines of literary genre, instead blending journalism, memoir, fiction, and narrative nonfiction.—
Melody Glenn
July 23,
Literary Hub,
23 July 2025
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Stinging and 'wicked' Asian needle ants are spreading across the US Are invasive tawny crazy ants in Ohio?—
Kim Luciani,
The Enquirer,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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As the twins of the zodiac, Gemini parents are playful, adaptable, and quick on their feet.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
15 July 2025
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White, who goes by Baby J, was described by cousin Raven Jackson as sweet, playful and charismatic.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knavish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knavish. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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