What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
puckish
Example
He had a puckish grin on his face as he played a prank on his friend. [puckish: adjective]
Example
The comedian's performance was full of puckish humor that kept the audience laughing. [puckish: adjective]
impish
Example
The little boy had an impish smile on his face as he snuck a cookie from the jar. [impish: adjective]
Example
She gave him an impish wink before running away with his hat. [impish: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Impish is more commonly used than puckish in everyday language. Impish is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while puckish is less common and may be considered more literary or poetic.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between puckish and impish?
Both puckish and impish are informal and casual in tone, but puckish may be considered more formal due to its literary association with Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'
