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Definition of impish

impish

/ˈɪm.pɪʃ/
im · pish
Adverb:impishly
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impish Lexical Profile

impish Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Inclined to do slightly naughty or playful things for fun; playfully mischievous.

Example

"The little boy flashed an impish grin before hiding his sister's shoes behind the sofa."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for impish

• Nearby Words

impetus
impinge
impious
impish
impishly
impishness
implacable

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 17th century from the noun 'imp' and the suffix '-ish'. The word 'imp' derives from Old English 'impa', originally meaning a young shoot or graft of a plant before shifting to mean a child and eventually a small, mischievous demon.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Impish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/impish
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