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waggishness

Anything you do with a playful, mischievous glint in your eye is done with waggishness. This characteristic of snappy humor is vital to practical jokers and class clowns.

Waggishness is a common trait of sitcom characters and teasing uncles — it's a good-humored playfulness that's just a tiny bit snarky or sharp. Though this noun is rarely used today, it's still a great way to describe someone's specific brand of humor. It comes from the old-fashioned noun wag, "person fond of making jokes."

Definitions of waggishness
  1. noun
    waggish behavior
    synonyms: waggery
    see moresee less
    type of:
    fun, play, sport
    verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously)
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