playfight
Friendly pretend fighting
To playfight is to engage in mock combat—wrestling, sparring, or roughhousing without intent to harm.
Children playfight constantly, as do puppies and kittens.
Adults may playfight affectionately or flirtatiously: They were playfighting on the couch when I walked in.
The noun form describes the activity itself: The playfight got out of hand.
Brief physical struggle
- wrestleEngage in physical combat
- scuffleBrief disorderly struggle
- grappleSeize and fight closely
- sparNautical support beam
horseplay · roughhouse · tumble · romp · clinch · jostle · pounce · tackle
Sudden attack leap
- stalkPlant's vertical support
- chaseRapid following of quarry
- nipQuick, sharp pinch
- swatHit something sharply
tumble · litter · cubs · puppies · kittens · wrestling · rough and tumble · growl
Imaginative play or fantasy
- roleplayAdopt another's perspective
- actingTemporarily holding position
- cops and robbersChildren's game of chase
- cowboys and IndiansChildhood role-playing chase game
swordfight · lightsaber · superhero · imaginary · dress-up · costume · fantasy · pirates
Playful, teasing exchange
- ribbingAffectionate verbal teasing
- joshingPlayful mocking
- tauntInsulting provocation
- provocationAct that triggers response
trash talk · goading · challenge · jesting · mockery · taunting · poking fun · egging on
tussle
Brief physical struggle
spar · horseplay · roughhouse · tumble · romp · clinch · jostle · pounce · tackle · pin
pounce
Sudden attack leap
swat · tumble · litter · cubs · puppies · kittens · wrestling · rough and tumble · growl · pawing
make-believe
Imaginative play or fantasy
- roleplayAdopt another's perspective
- actingTemporarily holding position
- cops and robbersChildren's game of chase
cowboys and Indians · swordfight · lightsaber · superhero · imaginary · dress-up · costume · fantasy · pirates · knights
banter
Playful, teasing exchange
provocation · trash talk · goading · challenge · jesting · mockery · taunting · poking fun · egging on · riling up
- roughhousingroughhouse, roughhousing, rough and tumble, horseplay, tussle
playfightbrawl
Disorderly group fight
battle · street fight · physical assault · fistfight · scuffle
playfightembrace
Hold closely in arms
hug · mortal combat · cooperation · fight to the death · peaceful coexistence