cheekily
In playful defiance
Cheekily describes doing something in a playfully impertinent or boldly irreverent way: She cheekily asked for a raise on her first day.
The word suggests mischief without malice—pushing boundaries with a wink rather than genuine disrespect.
More common in British than American English.
Boldly irreverent in manner
audacious · forward · fresh · cocky · impertinent · insolent · presumptuous · unabashed
Playfully mischievous in manner
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
- roguishMischievously charming
- waggishHumorously mischievous in manner
- prankishFond of tricks
teasing · whimsical · lighthearted · jocular · frolicsome · elfin · pixie · sportive
Playfully alluring in manner
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
- saucyBoldly disrespectful, often playfully
- naughtyMildly disobedient
risque · alluring · enticing · tantalizing · seductive · bawdy · suggestive · kittenish
sassy
Boldly irreverent in manner
brazen · audacious · forward · fresh · cocky · impertinent · insolent · presumptuous · unabashed · shameless
impish
Playfully mischievous in manner
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
- roguishMischievously charming
- waggishHumorously mischievous in manner
prankish · teasing · whimsical · lighthearted · jocular · frolicsome · elfin · pixie · sportive · blithe
coquettish
Playfully alluring in manner
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
- saucyBoldly disrespectful, often playfully
naughty · risque · alluring · enticing · tantalizing · seductive · bawdy · suggestive · kittenish · vampish
cheekilyrespectfully
In a deferential way
politely · deferentially · courteously · civilly · considerately
cheekilybashfully
In a shy manner
shyly · timidly · meekly · diffidently · self-effacingly