ludic

adjective

Definition of ludicnext
as in playful

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ludic The first image in the exhibition announced the playful tenor of the oversize works, which often verged on the ludic despite the lack of spontaneity owing to the cumbersome Land Camera. — James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026 Riverwork, only her second novel after a lifetime of ludic, elliptical poetry, assigns itself an essentially recuperative and archival undertaking. — Literary Hub, 21 May 2026 Season two’s quests continue to be imaginative, ludic, and delightfully pointless. — Lisa Kwon, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2024 For years, app developers have tried to include fun, ludic aspects to all kinds of apps, from education to fitness. — Elad Natanson, Forbes, 1 June 2021 After your treatment, bliss out on the Relaxation Deck, which is wrapped by a natural spring and houses a ludic therapy pool featuring hydrotherapy, cold mist, hydro jets, pressure showers, and waterfalls. — Michelle Stansbury, Marie Claire, 3 Dec. 2020 And some notable game-makers like Firaxis Games (Civilization) and 11-Bit Studios (This War of Mine) are drawing inspiration from climate-change to craft ludic dilemmas that force players to make radical decisions in the face of overwhelming odds. — Steven T. Wright, Ars Technica, 5 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ludic
  1. playful
  2. humorous
  3. jocular
  4. flippant
  5. facetious
  6. kittenish
Adjective
  • Among them was Chromeo, whose sleek, playful funk sound traveled through the city’s indie and electronic scenes.
    — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
  • These glasses have plenty of personality with playful prints, unexpected motifs, and fun patterns.
    — Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of playful
Adjective
  • Silvestri used a large orchestra to create a score that played the heist completely straight, despite its humorous premise.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Pledging love and respecting someone or a relationship can make people feel so uncomfortable that leaning into these tropes of life can feel humorous, and that’s where the laughs from a Hallmark film come from.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of humorous
Adjective
  • Small Time Crooks is an old-fashioned farce with likable characters and a jocular pace.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • His use of jocular names for detention centers has been imitated by other Republican governors creating state facilities to be used by ICE.
    — Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
Definition of jocular
Adjective
  • But there is a saying in the military that leadership sets the tone, and when the most senior leaders are flippant at best, and cruel at worst, many will understand that to be the permissible standard.
    — Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Kyles suggested, recalling her immediate response to the president’s seemingly flippant remark.
    — Chris Quintana, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of flippant
Adjective
  • The excess of emotion often scans as winkingly facetious, a dramatization to demonstrate just how deeply a person loves books.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 8 July 2026
  • The first thing he was asked, by another reporter who witnessed the debate, was a facetious question of whether he’s given MVP any thought.
    — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of facetious
Adjective
  • Simply brushing them out of your eyes can feel like a coquettish, kittenish gesture!
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Seductively kittenish, Gardner lives up to her profane reputation.
    — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2023
Definition of kittenish

Browse Nearby Words

Lucullan
ludic
ludicrous
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Cite this Entry

“Ludic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ludic. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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